Nosocomial outbreak of COVID-19 by possible airborne transmission leading to a superspreading event

Cheng, Vincent Chi-Chung; Fung, Kitty Sau-Chun; Siu, Gilman Kit-Hang; Wong, Shuk-Ching; Cheng, Lily Shui-Kuen; Wong, Man-Sing; Lee, Lam-Kwong; Chan, Wan-Mui; Chau, Ka-Yee; Leung, Jake Siu-Lun; Chu, Allen Wing-Ho; Chan, Wai-Shan; Lu, Kelvin Keru; Tam, Kingsley King-Gee; Ip, Jonathan Daniel; Leung, Kenneth Siu-Sing; Lung, David Christopher; Tse, Herman; To, Kelvin Kai-Wang; Yuen, Kwok-Yung

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial outbreaks with superspreading of COVID-19 due to a possible airborne transmission has not been reported. METHODS: Epidemiological analysis, environmental samplings, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed for a hospital outbreak. RESULTS: A superspreading event involving 12 patients and 9 healthcare workers (HCWs) occurred within 4 days in 3 of 6 cubicles at an old-fashioned general ward with no air exhaust built within the cubicles. The environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 RNA was significantly higher in air grilles (>2m from patients’ head and not reachable by hands) than high-touch clinical surfaces (36.4%, 8/22 vs 3.4%, 1/29, p=0.003). Six (66.7%) of 9 contaminated air exhaust grilles were located outside patient cubicle. The clinical attack rate of patients was significantly higher than HCWs (15.4%, 12/78 exposed-patients vs 4.6%, 9/195 exposed-HCWs, p=0.005). Moreover, clinical attack rate of ward-based HCWs was significantly higher than non-ward-based HCWs (8.1%, 7/68 vs 1.8%, 2/109, p=0.045). The episodes (mean ± S.D) of patient-care duty assignment in the cubicles was significantly higher among infected ward-based HCWs than non-infected ward-based HCWs (6.0±2.4 vs 3.0±2.9, p=0.012) during the outbreak period. The outbreak strains belong to SARS-CoV-2 lineage, B.1.36.27 (GISAID Clade GH) with the unique S-T470N mutation on WGS. CONCLUSION: This nosocomial point source superspreading due to possible airborne transmission demonstrated the need for stringent SARS-CoV-2 screening at admission to healthcare facilities and better architectural design of the ventilation system to prevent such outbreaks. Portable high-efficiency particulate filters were installed in each cubicle to improve ventilation before resumption of clinical service.