Rapid environmental monitoring, capture, and destruction activities of SARS-CoV-2 during the Covid-19 health emergency
Authors: Marchetti Roberto , Stella Martina , Talukdar Debjyoti , Pileci Rosaria Erika 
Published: November 2020

Objectives

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a health emergency for occupational healthcare workers at COVID19 hospital wards in Italy. The objective of the study was to investigate if U-Earth AIRcel bioreactors were effective in monitoring and improving air quality via detection, capture, and destruction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing the risk of transmission among healthcare workers.

Methods

U-Earth AIRcel bioreactors are a demonstrated effective biomonitoring system. We implemented a methodological approach wherein they were placed at various hospitals treating COVID-19 patients in Italy. The detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was achieved through rapid biomonitoring testing of the solutes from the AIRcel bioreactors via SARS-CoV-2 rapid test antigen and consecutive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis with the multiplex platform (XABT) and the Real-Time PCR Rotor-Gene.

Results

The marked presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in multiple water samples via the detection of ORF1ab + N and/or E gene involved in gene expression and cellular signaling of the SARS-CoV virus. The AIRcel bioreactors were able to neutralize the virus effectively as traces of the viruses were no longer found in multiple solute samples after an overnight period.

Conclusions

Transmission of COVID-19 via bio-aerosols, transmitted by infected patients, remains a viable threat for health workers. AIRcel bioreactors allow for rapid biomonitoring testing for early virus detection within the environment, reducing the risk of exponential contagion exposure and maintaining good air quality without endangering health workers. This same protocol can also be extended to public spaces as a bio-monitoring tool for hotpots early detection.

Key messages

What is already known about this subject?

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus via bio-aerosols is a threat to health care workers. Only few studies have conducted investigations on how to limit the spread of the virus via air purifiers.

Existing studies show a higher risk to health care workers serving at COVID-19 wards with a higher risk of viral transmission.

What are the new findings?

In this study, SARS-CoV-2 virus traces were captured by U-Earth air purifier bioreactor units placed at several hospitals in Italy.

AIRcel bioreactors achieved early detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within the environment via rapid biomonitoring testing.

AIRcel bioreactors have proved effective in biomonitoring via the detection, capture, and destruction of SARS-CoV-2 virus through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis with the multiplex platform (XABT) Multiple Real-Time PCR Rotor-Gene.

How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?

This study shows the need for effective surveillance and biomonitoring to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. AIRcel bioreactors, an effective occupational surveillance system, can reduce the transmission of the virus to health care workers serving COVID-19 infected patients at hospital wards.

AIRcel bioreactors can also be used in public spaces and other settings, such as schools, to increase the speed of detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and improve control of the environment, thereby decreasing the exponential growth of the pandemic.