SARS-CoV-2 is not found in the sweat of COVID-19 positive patients

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Arslan B., Bercin S., Aydogan S., Islamoglu Y., Dinc B.

Irish Journal of Medical Science, vol.191, no.1, pp.27-29, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 191 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11845-021-02537-y
  • Journal Name: Irish Journal of Medical Science
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.27-29
  • Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Sweat, COVID-19, Transmission
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.Background: As the SARS-CoV-2 virus made a pandemic all over the world, its transmission routes became significant. Transmission from human to human is known, but other possible routes are not determined well. Aims: This study aimed to reveal the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in sweat. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care education and training hospital. Fifty patients were included in this study. Skin disinfection was done with an alcohol-based solution. Swabs for RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) were taken from forehead and axilla skin after sweating patients for 30 min. After collection of sweat, swabs were placed into 2 ml of sterile viral transport medium, then transported quickly to the microbiology laboratory. Results: No SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in RT-PCR of forehead and axilla swabs. Conclusion: This study showed that there is no transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus via sweat. However, general precautions must be taken while doing interventional procedures.