The Infectious Nature of Patient-Generated SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.13.20041632
• Publication Date: 2020-07-20T16:17:41Z
• Authors: Joshua L. Santarpia; Vicki L. Herrera; Danielle N. Rivera; Shanna Ratnesar-S...; St. Patrick Reid; Paul W. Denton; Jacob W.S. Martens; Ying Fang; Nicholas Conoan; Michael V. Callahan; James V. Lawler; David M. Brett-Major; John J. Lowe
• Keywords: Coronavirus; Airborne Transmission

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission causing disease 2019 (COVID-19) may occur through multiple routes. We collected aerosol samples around six patients admitted into mixed acuity wards in April of 2020 to identify the risk airborne SARS-CoV-2. Measurements were made characterize size distribution particles, and size-fractionated, assess presence infectious virus particles sizes >4.1 µm, 1-4 <1 µm patient environment. Samples analyzed by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), cell culture, western blot, electron microscopy (TEM). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected all rooms particle fractions (>4.1 µm). Increases viral during culture from recovered demonstrated infectious, replicating virions three (P<0.05). Viral replication also observed stage but did not reach statistical significance (0.05<P<0.10). Western blot TEM analysis these showed evidence proteins intact virions. The nature this study further suggests that COVID-19 is possible, prevention measures are necessary effectively stem spread