Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Workplace: Key Findings from a Rapid Review of the Literature

JENNIE COX, Brian Christensen, Nancy Burton, Kevin Dunn, Mikaela Finnegan, Ana Ruess, Cherie Estill, NIOSH, CDC

     Abstract Number: 74
     Working Group: Aerosol Science of Infectious Diseases: What We Have Learned and Still Need to Know about Transmission, Prevention, and the One Health Concept

Abstract
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary route of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was not well understood. Information from previous respiratory infectious diseases was the basis for the initial perceptions of different modes of transmission for SARS-CoV-2. To better understand the modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, a rapid literature review was conducted from June 22, 2020, to September 23, 2021. 18,616 unique results were identified from literature databases and screened. Of these, 279 key articles were reviewed and abstracted covering critical topics such as environmental/workplace monitoring, sampling and analytical method evaluation, and virus survivability. This presentation describes the results of the rapid literature review, which evaluated the pathways that contribute to transmission as well as the strengths and limitations of current sampling approaches. This review also evaluates how different factors, including environmental conditions, could impact the transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2. A continual rapid review in the midst of a pandemic was very useful for quickly understanding the transmission parameters of the virus and enabled us to comprehensively assess literature, respond to workplace inquiries, and to evaluate our understanding as the science changed. Key findings include that air and surface sampling, and analytical methods, were not generally effective in recovering SARS-CoV-2 viable virus or RNA in many likely contaminated environments (e.g., hospitals with COVID patients). While sampling to detect SARS-CoV-2 is still developing, results are not currently suitable for the definitive determination of worker safety and transmission risk. Therefore, workers and managers must rely on best practices in order to minimize exposure. The development of validated sampling and analysis methods is critical for determining worker exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and to assess the impact of mitigation efforts.