The limited knowledge about the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is a current challenge on a global scale. Among possible transmission routes, air transfer of the virus is thought to be prominent. To investigate this further, measurements were conducted at Razi hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, which was selected to treat COVID-19 severe cases in the Khuzestan province. Passive and active sampling methods were employed and compared with regard to their efficiency for collection of airborne SARS-COV-2 virus particles. Fifty one indoor air samples were collected in two areas, with distances of less than or equal to 1 m (patient room) and more than 3 m away (hallway and nurse station) from patient beds. A simulation method was used to obtain the virus load released by a regularly breathing or coughing individual including a range of microdroplet emissions. Using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 11.76% (N = 6) of all indoor air samples (N = 51) collected in the COVID-19 ward tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus, including 4 cases in patient rooms and 2 cases in the hallway. Also, 5 of the 6 positive cases were confirmed using active sampling methods with only 1 based on passive sampling. The results support airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosols in indoor air. Multivariate analysis showed that among 15 parameters studied, the highest correlations with PCR results were obtained for temperature, relative humidity, PM levels, and presence of an air cleaner.

对 SARS-CoV-2 传播机制的了解有限是当前全球范围内的挑战。在可能的传播途径中，病毒的空气传播被认为是突出的。为了进一步调查这一点，在伊朗阿瓦士的​​ Razi 医院进行了测量，该医院被选来治疗胡齐斯坦省的 COVID-19 重症病例。采用了被动和主动采样方法，并比较了它们收集空气传播的 SARS-COV-2 病毒颗粒的效率。在距病床小于或等于1 m（病房）和大于3 m（走廊和护士站）的两个区域采集了51份室内空气样本。一种模拟方法被用来获得由一个有规律的呼吸或咳嗽的人释放的病毒载量，包括一系列的微滴排放。使用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应 (RT-PCR)，在 COVID-19 病房收集的所有室内空气样本 (N = 51) 中，有 11.76% (N = 6) 的 SARS-CoV-2 病毒检测呈阳性，包括病房4例，走廊2例。此外，6 例阳性病例中有 5 例是使用主动采样方法确认的，只有 1 例基于被动采样方法。结果支持 SARS-CoV-2 生物气溶胶在室内空气中的空气传播。多变量分析表明，在所研究的 15 个参数中，温度、相对湿度、PM 水平和空气净化器的存在与 PCR 结果的相关性最高。其中病房4例，走廊2例。此外，6 例阳性病例中有 5 例是使用主动采样方法确认的，只有 1 例基于被动采样方法。结果支持 SARS-CoV-2 生物气溶胶在室内空气中的空气传播。多变量分析表明，在所研究的 15 个参数中，温度、相对湿度、PM 水平和空气净化器的存在与 PCR 结果的相关性最高。其中病房4例，走廊2例。此外，6 例阳性病例中有 5 例是使用主动采样方法确认的，只有 1 例基于被动采样方法。结果支持 SARS-CoV-2 生物气溶胶在室内空气中的空气传播。多变量分析表明，在所研究的 15 个参数中，温度、相对湿度、PM 水平和空气净化器的存在与 PCR 结果的相关性最高。