Editor's evaluation: Association of close-range contact patterns with SARS-CoV-2: a household transmission study
Year: 2023
Type: peer-review
Abstract: Background: Households are an important location for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, especially during periods when travel and work was restricted to essential services.We aimed to assess the association of close-range contact patterns with SARS-CoV-2 transmission.Methods: We deployed proximity sensors for two weeks to measure face-to-face interactions between household members after SARS-CoV-2 was identified in the household, in South Africa, 2020-2021.We calculated the duration, frequency, and average duration of close-range proximity events with SARS-CoV-2 index cases.We assessed the association of contact parameters with SARS-CoV-2 transmission using mixed effects logistic regression accounting for index and household member characteristics.Results: We included 340 individuals (88 SARS-CoV-2 index cases and 252 household members).On multivariable analysis, factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 acquisition were index cases with minimum C t value <30 (aOR 16.8 95% CI 3.1-93.1)vs >35, and female contacts (aOR 2.5 95% CI 1.3-5.0).No contact parameters were associated with acquisition (aOR 1.0-1.1)for any of the duration, frequency, cumulative time in contact, or average duration parameters.Conclusions: We did not find an association between close-range proximity events and SARS-CoV-2 household transmission.Our findings may be due to study limitations, that droplet-mediated transmission during close-proximity contacts plays a smaller role than airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the household, or due to high contact rates in households.
Source: eLife
Author: Sarah E Cobey
Institution: University of Chicago
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Awards: Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, clinical features and disease impact in South Africa, a setting with high HIV prevalence, Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, clinical features and disease impact in South Africa, a setting with high HIV prevalence, Pan-European Response to the ImpactS of COVID-19 and future Pandemics and Epidemics, A new approach to modelling turbulent planetary circulations
OpenAlex ID: W4385059265