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Volume 26, Number 8—August 2020
Research

CrAssphage as a Novel Tool to Detect Human Fecal Contamination on Environmental Surfaces and Hands

Geun Woo ParkComments to Author , Terry Fei Fan Ng, Amy L. Freeland, Vincent C. Marconi, Julie A. Boom, Mary A. Staat, Anna Maria Montmayeur, Hannah Browne, Jothikumar Narayanan, Daniel C. Payne, Cristina V. Cardemil, Aimee Treffiletti, and Jan Vinjé
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (G.W. Park, T.F.F. Ng, A.L. Freeland, J. Narayanan, D.C. Payne, C.V. Cardemil, A. Treffiletti, J. Vinjé); Atlanta Veteran Administration Medical Center, Atlanta (V.C. Marconi); Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta (V.C. Marconi); Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA (J.A. Boom); Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (M.A. Staat); Cherokee Nation Assurance, Arlington, Virginia, USA (A.M. Montmayeur); Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA (H. Browne)

Main Article

Table 3

Prevalence of crAssphage and human norovirus on environmental surfaces on 5 cruise ships with norovirus outbreaks

Sampled objects† CrAssphage
 Norovirus
No. positive/total no. (%) Concentration* (range) No. positive/total no. (%) Concentration* (range)
Cabins of norovirus-positive patients
Toilet seatsP 11/16 (68.5) 3.3 (1.2–5.6) 9/16 (56.3) 5.5 (3.1–7.4)
Toilet door handlesM 7/16 (43.75) 2.3 (1.0–3.1) 5/16 (31.3) 5.1 (3.7–5.7)
Telephone handlesP 9/16 (56.4) 2.4 (1.7–3.5) 3/16 (18.8) 4.9 (4.9–5.5)
Remote control surfacesP 14/16 (87.5) 2.6 (1.4–4.1) 5/16 (31.3) 3.6 (2.9–5.1)
Cabin door handlesM 6/16 (37.5) 2.0 (0.8–3.4) 6/16 (37.5) 4.4 (3.1–6.0)
Overall
 47/80 (58.8)
 2.5 (0.8–5.6)
29/80 (36.3)
 4.8 (3.1–7.4)
Public area (passenger area)
ATM buttonsP 2/3 (66.6) 2.8 (2.4–3.4) 1/3 (33.3) 1.8
Menu folderL 2/5 (40) 1.9(1.7–2.1) 1/5 (20.0) 4.9
Condiment containersM 2/5 (40) 2.2(2.1–2.3) 0/5 (0)
Buffet utensilsM 1/2 (50) 1.6 0/2 (0)
Ice cream handleP 1/4 (25.0) 2.2 0/3 (0)
Casino chipsP 3/5 (60) 2.7 (2.1–2.8) 0/5 (0)
Medical center clipboardsP 3/5 (60) 2.3 (2.1–2.5) 1/5 (20) 5.1
Gift shop register touch screensP 3/5 (60) 3.0 (2.7–3.0) 0/5 (0)
Youth center toysP 2/4 (50.0) 2.1 (2.1–2.2) 0/4 (0)
Atrium hand railsW 2/5 (40.0) 3.0 (2.1–3.9) 1/5 (20) 4.1
Internet café keyboardsP 3/5 (60) 1.8(1.8–2.5) 0/5 (0)
Wheelchair handle restsP 2/5 (25) 2.9 (2.0–3.8) 0/5 (0)
Hand contact surfaces exposed to public vomiting incidentM 2/4 (50) 3.2 (2.8–3.5) 1/4 (25) 4.3
Toilet seat surfaces in public rest roomP 3/3 (100) 4.7 (2.4–4.7) 0/3 (0) 0
Overall
 21/64 (51.5)
 2.4 (1.6–3.2)
5/64 (7.8)
 3.3 (1.8–5.1)
Public area (crew area)
Time clock machinesP 3/5 (60) 2.2 (2.1–2.5) 0/5 (0)
Edges of trolley for dirty linensP 5/5 (100) 2.3 (1.8–3.2) 0/5 (0)
Elevator buttons in food service areasP 3/5 (60) 2.3 (2.1–3.1) 0/5 (0)
Computer keyboardP 2/5 (40) 2.3 (2.0–2.5) 0/5 (0)
Countertop surfaces in crew smoking roomW 2/5 (40) 2.3(2.1–2.5) 0/5 (0)
Overall 15/25 (60) 2.3 (1.8–3.2) 0/25 (0)

1log10 genomic copies per sampled object.
2Each superscripted character indicates surface material of sampled object as follows: P, plastic; M, metal; W, wood; and L, leather.

Main Article

Page created: May 07, 2020
Page updated: July 17, 2020
Page reviewed: July 17, 2020
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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