How the COVID-19 virus survives in hospital air
Linking SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Viability and Environmental Factors in Healthcare Settings
Researchers will measure how much infectious COVID-19 and similar viruses are present in tiny airborne droplets in hospitals to help protect patients and healthcare workers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141224 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a patient in the hospital, you might be in rooms where air samplers are placed near the bed while routine care or procedures are done. The team will first choose and test devices that capture airborne particles by size and confirm they can collect live virus using a harmless surrogate virus called bacteriophage MS2. Then they will run those samplers alongside conventional air monitors during real healthcare activities to measure how much infectious virus is present in different particle sizes. They will compare results across different procedures and environmental conditions like ventilation and humidity to identify higher-risk activities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 or patients undergoing respiratory care or procedures in hospital areas where air sampling is being performed.
Not a fit: People who are not treated in the participating hospitals or who are not producing respiratory aerosols (for example, fully recovered community members) are unlikely to be included or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help hospitals identify high-risk activities and improve controls to reduce airborne spread of COVID-19 and protect patients and staff.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have often detected viral genetic material in air, but measuring infectious (viable) virus by particle size is less common and is a relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Kerry — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Kerry
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.