Mo Y, Eyre DW, Lumley SF, et al. - As there are various reports describing the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the hospital setting, researchers sought to determine the relative relevance of different transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2 in this setting.

• Data were retrieved from four teaching hospitals in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, from January to October 2020.

• Using statistical models, analysis was done to determine how infectious SARS-CoV-2 individuals (classified as community- or hospital-acquired) are associated with infection risk posed to the susceptible individuals.

• For susceptible patients, additional 8 infections per 1,000 susceptible patients were reported in correlation with 1 day exposure in the same ward with another patient with hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2, while substantially lower infection risks of 2 per 1,000 susceptible patients were recorded in correlation with exposure to an infectious patient with community-acquired COVID-19 or to an infectious HCW.

• As for HCW infections, there was an additional 1 infection per 1,000 susceptible HCWs per day in correlation with both exposure to an infectious patient with hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 or to an infectious HCW, while exposure to an infectious patient with community-acquired SARS-CoV-2 was associated with less than half this risk.

• Overall, this study yields strong evidence supporting correlation of newly infected COVID-19 patients with a high risk of onward transmission to patients and HCWs in hospital.

• This emphasizes the necessity for implementing improved strategies to prevent and detect early hospital-onset SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospitalized patients, for example, regular screening and prompt testing to detect these patients.