Concordance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Aerosols From a Nurses Station and in Nurses and Patients During a Hospital Ward Outbreak

Key Points Question Is SARS-CoV-2 RNA found in aerosols in hospital break rooms and nurses stations during a nosocomial outbreak? Findings In this cohort study, SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences in air samples collected at a nurses station were identified in all particle sizes and were identical to human samples from a nosocomial outbreak. Detection of aerosol-borne SARS-CoV-2 was statistically less frequent on units under surveillance (7 of 210 samples) than without surveillance (24 of 300 samples). Meaning These findings suggest that nosocomial infection may result from aerosol-borne SARS-CoV-2 introduced by employees and patients into common hospital areas; surveillance may help reduce the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into aerosols.