Detection of Coronavirus Disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) Virus on the Surface of Hospital Settings by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background & Objectives: Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) has had a profound impact on human health, with over ۷۰۴,۷۵۳,۸۹۰ confirmed cases and ۷,۰۱۰,۶۸۱ deaths reported to date. This study aimed to evaluate the contamination rate of COVID-۱۹ on high-risk surfaces at Valiasr Hospital in Fasa, Iran, using molecular testing. Materials & Methods: A total of ۱۴۲ surface swabs, immersed in viral transport medium (VTM), were collected and transported to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Cohort Center of Fasa University of Medical Sciences for COVID-۱۹ virus testing. The presence of the virus was assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technique (QIAquant ۹۶ ۵plex), following the manufacturer’s protocol (Qiagen, MD, USA). Results: Among the ۱۴۲ samples obtained from surfaces and equipment in the COVID-۱۹ ward, two samples tested positive for COVID-۱۹. Similarly, two samples from the coronavirus isolation ward were found to be positive using RT-qPCR. The positive samples were collected from a patient’s bed and the interior bed of an insulated room. No COVID-۱۹ contamination was detected on hospital surface samples outside these areas. Conclusion: This study identified a low rate of COVID-۱۹ contamination on hospital surfaces and equipment in Fasa city. The findings suggest that the hospital environment could serve as a potential source of COVID-۱۹ transmission, particularly among healthcare providers, visitors, and patients.

کلیدواژه ها:

Coronavirus Disease ۲۰۱۹ ، Molecular diagnosis ، Contamination ، Hospital environment