Nano-treatment of HEPA filters in COVID-19 isolation rooms in an academic medical center in Saudi Arabia.

Khaled F Salama, Amani Alnimr, Aisha Alamri, Mahmoud Radi, Bashayer Alshehri, Ali A Rabaan, Mohammed Alshahrani

Journal: Journal of infection and public health 2022;15(9):937-941

PMID: 35914357

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has spread globally. The major reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains controversial, with the airborne route remaining a possible transmission vehicle for carrying the virus within indoor environments. This study aimed to detect contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters within hospital isolation rooms of confirmed COVID-19 patients, exploring the role of nano-treatment of these filters with silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Ag/TiO NPs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated the effectiveness of Ag-NPs/TiO-treated HEPA filters in the air of rooms occupied by patients with confirmed COVID-19 in a university teaching hospital in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia during the first wave of the pandemic. Ag/TiO NPs were designed and coated on HEPA filters to examine the filtration efficiency and antiviral ability in the presence of aerosolized virus particles. A total of 20 viral swab samples were collected from five patients' rooms before and after treatment with nanoparticle-prepared solutions into the sterile virus-transporting media. Samples were evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 with a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Two samples taken from the HEPA filter air exhaust outlets prior to nano-treatment tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the intensive care unit, which has stringent aerosolization control procedures, suggesting that small virus-laden droplets may be displaced by airflow. All air samples collected from the HEPA filters from the rooms of patients with confirmed COVID-19 following nano-treatment were negative.

CONCLUSION

We recommend further experimental exploration using a larger number of HEPA filters in areas with aerosol-generating procedures, along with viability studies on the HEPA filters to facilitate decision-making in high-risk facilities regarding the replacement, storage, and disposal of HEPA filters in wards occupied by cases diagnosed with a highly transmissible disease.

Address: Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health & King Fahad Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine & King Fahad Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Faisal Road, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Infection Control, King Fahad Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.; Microbiology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.; Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan. Electronic address: [email protected].; Emergency and Critical Care Department, College of Medicine & King Fahad Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.07.004