The spatial and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 from the built environment of COVID-19 patient rooms: A multicentre prospective study.
Michael FralickMadison BurellaAaron HinzHebah S MejbelDavid S GuttmanLydia XingJason A MoggridgeJohn LappAlex WongCaroline NottNicole Harris-LintonRees KassenDerek R MacFaddenPublished in: PloS one (2023)
We were able to detect SARS-CoV-2 on the floors in rooms of patients with COVID-19. The viral burden did not vary over time or by distance from the patient's bed. These results suggest floor swabbing for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a built environment such as a hospital room is both accurate and robust to variation in sampling location and duration of occupancy.