Let’s not forget MRSA and the risk from contaminated surfaces

There’s been understandably a huge amount of discussion about the possible role of contaminated surfaces in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. But let’s not forget the important and established role that contaminated surfaces play in the transmission of other important pathogens. There’s strong evidence that MRSA transmission dynamics can include contaminated…

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Environmental contamination risk from asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection

There is emerging evidence that contaminated surfaces play a role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This is in line with the diverse transmission routes of other respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-1 and influenza. One of the key features of SARS-CoV-2 is the documented spread from people with asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infection. A new study has identified…

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Modelling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from surfaces in clinical settings using a DNA marker

The principle transmission route for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets. Indirect transmission of these droplets to a susceptible person through contaminated surfaces may play an important – and underplayed – role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A study from scientists at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) uses a DNA marker…

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Face masks, face shields, and preventing the spread of COVID-19

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is primarily spread by respiratory droplets, although other routes of transmission (including contact with contaminated people and surfaces) play a role too. One of the most important ways to prevent the spread of the respiratory droplets that transmit SARS-CoV-2 is through physical distancing. Where this is not possible, respiratory…

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Assessing the risk of hospital transmission of COVID-19

As hospitals move past the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of hospital-transmission looms large. Elective services will reopen and patients who have not been exposed to COVID-19 as a result of the broadly successful lockdown will come into hospitals and risk exposure to patient (and staff) with COVID-19 infections. How big is this…

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Coronavirus: a lecture by Martin Kiernan

This lecture was given to staff at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust on 26th March 2020 as part of Martin’s role back in the NHS. The below vidoes are directly linked to their YouTube channel. The origins of coronavirus Find out how COVID-19 compares with SARS and MERS, and how the UK compares with…

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COVID-19 pandemic picks up pace

The latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic is that it’s picking up pace and very much going global. There have now been more than 450,000 confirmed cases worldwide, and more than 21,000 deaths (with a case fatality rate of 4.5% amongst confirmed cases). In the UK, there have been almost 10,000 confirmed cases and more…

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