Surveillance of respiratory viruses by aerosol screening in indoor air as an early warning system for epidemics

• Published in: Environmental microbiology reports 2024-08, Vol.16 (4), p.e13303-n/a
• Main Authors: Eren, Zeynep Bengi, Vatansever, Cansel, Kabadayı, Berk, Haykar, Bedirhan, Kuloğlu, Zeynep Ece, Ay, Sedat, Nurlybayeva, Kamila, Eyikudamacı, Gül, Barlas, Tayfun, Palaoğlu, Erhan, Beşli, Yeşim, Kuşkucu, Mert Ahmet, Ergönül, Önder, Can, Fusun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols - analysis; Air Microbiology; Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - virology; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Epidemics; Humans; Influenza A virus - isolation & purification; Influenza B virus - isolation & purification; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - virology; Respiratory Tract Infections - diagnosis; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; Rhinovirus - isolation & purification; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Seasons; Viruses - classification; Viruses - genetics; Viruses - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 1758-2229; 1758-2229
• DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13303

The development of effective methods for the surveillance of seasonal respiratory viruses is required for the timely management of outbreaks. We aimed to survey Influenza‐A, Influenza‐B, RSV‐A, Rhinovirus and SARS‐CoV‐2 surveillance in a tertiary hospital and a campus over 5 months. The effectiveness of air screening as an early warning system for respiratory viruses was evaluated in correlation with respiratory tract panel test results. The overall viral positivity was higher on the campus than in the hospital (55.0% vs. 38.0%). Influenza A was the most prevalent pathogen in both locations. There were two influenza peaks (42nd and 49th weeks) in the hospital air, and a delayed peak was detected on campus in the 1st‐week of January. Panel tests indicated a high rate of Influenza A in late December. RSV‐A‐positivity was higher on the campus than the hospital (21.6% vs. 7.4%). Moreover, we detected two RSV‐A peaks in the campus air (48th and 51st weeks) but only one peak in the hospital and panel tests (week 49). Although rhinovirus was the most common pathogen in panel tests, rhinovirus positivity was low in air samples. The air screening for Influenza‐B and SARS‐Cov‐2 revealed comparable positivity rates with panel tests. Air screening can be integrated into surveillance programs to support infection control programs for potential epidemics of respiratory virus infections except for rhinoviruses. Development of effective methods for surveillance of seasonal respiratory viruses is required for timely management of outbreaks. The aim of the study was to survey respiratory viruses' surveillance in a tertiary hospital and a campus over a five‐month period. We concluded that air screening can be integrated into surveillance programs to identify and support infection control programs for potential epidemics of respiratory virus infections except rhinoviruses.