PHO Rounds: Coronavirus in the Urban Built Environment (CUBE): Evaluating the use of Environmental Swabs for the Detection and Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in School and Congregate Setting
Monitoring the burden of SARS-CoV-2 in our communities in the absence of personal testing remains challenging. Environmental sampling of the built environment can rapidly identify where SARS-CoV-2 is present, direct recommendations on individual risk and screening, and track prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants over time. Floors act as surfaces that collect virus shed through respiratory droplets and aerosols, and thus represent a useful substrate to sample for the presence of infected individuals. Built environment sampling provides more spatially refined detection and expanded geographic range, complementing wastewater sampling.
This session will show that SARS-CoV-2 detection prevalence mirrored disease activity across hospital and university campuses. In long-term care homes, swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2 occurred 3-fold more often during outbreak compared to non-outbreak periods.
In the subsequent learning exchange, ongoing work will be reported for additional settings including schools and the community, and the utility of built environment screening in at-risk settings, will be discussed.
Intended audience: Professionals working in public health, environmental and occupational health, infection prevention and control.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the current evidence around environmental surveillance for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and variants.
- Recognize important differences between wastewater and built environmental sampling as surveillance indicators.
- Review findings of built environmental screening studies in hospital, university, long-term care and school settings.
- Discuss implications of these findings for public health responses during the pandemic.
Presenter(s): Dr. Caroline Nott and Dr. Michael Fralick
Dr. Caroline Nott, MD, FRCPC, is an Infectious Diseases Physician and Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH). She completed a Masters in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Nott has supported TOH Infection Prevention and Control and Occupational Health Departments as a COVID-19 Pandemic Support Lead since April 2020.
Dr. Michael Fralick, MD, PhD, MSc, FRCP, is a board-certified General Internist in Canada and the US. He completed a Master’s of Science in Clinical Epidemiology at Harvard University and PhD at the University of Toronto. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he shifted his research focus to pragmatic clinical trials. Currently, Michael is a Clinician Scientist at Sinai Health in Toronto and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.
Accreditation
Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.
PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).
For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.
Accessibility
Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.
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