Nosocomial TransMISSIOn of Emerging Viruses
The pandemic of COVID-19 has further demonstrated the devastating potential for hospital-acquired or nosocomial transmission of emerging viruses. I am investigating which emerging viruses pose a high-risk to healthcare workers and in what settings are transmission events occurring. I studied aerosol-generating medical procedures (shown below), which were associated with transmission of other coronaviruses and likely influence transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, we are assessing decontamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to protect healthcare workers.
Related publications:
Judson, S., & Munster, V. (2020). A Framework for Nosocomial Transmission of Emerging Coronaviruses. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1-8. doi:10.1017/ice.2020.296
Judson, S.D., van Doremalen, N, Munster, V.J. (2020). Stability and Viability of SARS-CoV-2. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Judson, S.D.; Munster, V.J. (2019). Nosocomial Transmission of Emerging Viruses via Aerosol-Generating Medical Procedures. Viruses. 11(10), 940. https://doi.org/10.3390/v11100940
Fischer R.J., Morris D.H., van Doremalen N., Sarchette S., Matson M.J., Bushmaker T., Yinda C.K., Seifer S.N., Gamble A., Williamson B., Judson S.D., de Wit E., Lloyd-Smith J.O., Munster V.J (2020). Effectiveness of N95 Respirator Decontamination and Reuse against SARS-CoV-2 Virus. Emerg Infect Dis. doi:10.3201/eid2609.201524
Aerosol-generating medical procedures involved in transmission of emerging viruses
EBOLA VIRUS TRANSMISSION
During the beginning of the 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, little was known about Ebola virus transmission between people. We examined current knowledge about Ebola virus transmission and what kinds of experiments could improve our understanding. One way of improving our understanding is designing experiments to test the biological phenomena behind Ebola virus transmission. Therefore, we tested the stability of Ebola virus on different surfaces, fluids, and within aerosols in simulated outbreak conditions.
Related publications:
Judson, S., Prescott, J., & Munster, V. (2015). Understanding Ebola Virus Transmission. Viruses, 7(2), 511-521.
Fischer R*, Judson S*, Miazgowicz K, Bushmaker T, Prescott J, Munster VJ. Ebola virus stability on surfaces and in fluids in simulated outbreak environments. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 Jul. doi: 10.3201/edi2107.150253 *These authors contributed equally to this article
Fischer RJ, Bushmaker T, Judson S, Munster VJ. Comparison of the Aerosol Stability of 2 Strains of Zaire ebolavirus from the 1976 and 2013 Outbreaks. 2016. J Infect Dis.
Fischer RJ, Judson S, Miazgowicz K, Bushmaker T, Munster VJ. Ebola virus persistence in semen ex vivo. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Feb. doi: 10.3201/edi2202.151278
Prescott J, Bushmaker T, Fischer R, Miazgowicz K, Judson S, Munster VJ (2015). Postmortem stability of Ebola virus. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 May.