Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) surface contamination in staff common areas and impact on healthcare worker infection: Prospective surveillance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

We prospectively surveyed SARS-CoV-2 RNA contamination in staff common areas within an acute-care hospital. An increasing prevalence of surface contamination was detected over time. Adjusting for patient census or community incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the proportion of contaminated surfaces did not predict healthcare worker COVID-19 infection on study units.

Automated summary

This study prospectively surveyed the contamination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in staff common areas of an acute-care hospital. It found an increasing prevalence of surface contamination over time. However, adjusting for patient census or community incidence of COVID-19, the proportion of contaminated surfaces did not predict healthcare worker infection on study units.