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SARS-CoV-2 RNA in exhaled air of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Scientific reports

Authors: Lisa Kurver, Corné H van den Kieboom, Kjerstin Lanke, Dimitri A Diavatopoulos, Gijs J Overheul, Mihai G Netea, Jaap Ten Oever, Reinout van Crevel, Karin Mulders-Manders, Frank L van de Veerdonk, Heiman Wertheim, Jeroen Schouten, Janette Rahamat-Langendoen, Ronald P van Rij, Teun Bousema, Arjan van Laarhoven, Marien I de Jonge

Knowledge about contagiousness is key to accurate management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Epidemiological studies suggest that in addition to transmission through droplets, aerogenic SARS-CoV-2 transmission contributes to the spread of infection. However, the presence of virus in exhaled air has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. In pandemic situations low tech disposable and user-friendly bedside devices are required, while commercially available samplers are unsuitable for application in patients with respiratory distress. We included 49 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and used a disposable modular breath sampler to measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in exhaled air samples and compared these to SARS-CoV-2 RNA load of combined nasopharyngeal throat swabs and saliva. Exhaled air sampling using the modular breath sampler has proven feasible in a clinical COVID-19 setting and demonstrated viral detection in 25% of the patients.

© 2022. The Author(s).

PMID: 35637284

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