Shiu EYC, et al. Frequent recovery of influenza A but not influenza B virus RNA in aerosols in pediatric patient rooms. Indoor Air. 2020 Mar 23.
Influenza transmission occurs through the air, but the relative importance of small droplets, or aerosols, in influenza transmission especially within healthcare facilities remains uncertain. Detections of influenza virus in aerosols in cough and exhaled breath from infected patients, and from the air in outpatient or inpatient healthcare facilities have been studied, but most studies were done in adults with very few data involving children. We aimed to assess the potential of influenza transmission via aerosols in pediatric patient rooms. Two-stage cyclone (NIOSH) air samplers were used to collect the air in 5-bed pediatric patient rooms with patients with PCR-confirmed influenza. Influenza A virus RNA was recovered in 15/19 (79%) air sampling occasions, in all size fractions (>4μm, 1-4μm and <1μm), and significantly less for influenza B virus (2/10 occasions, 20%). We estimated a ventilation rate of 1.46 ACH in a similar but unoccupied 5-bed patient room. High quantities of influenza A virus RNA detected in the air in pediatric patient rooms suggests other individuals in paediatric patient rooms including other patients, visitors, caretakers and healthcare workers could be exposed to influenza A virus while caring for infected children.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Phylogeography and gene pool analysis of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses reported in India from 2006 to 2021 13 hours ago
- Analysis of a diffusive epidemic model with a zero-infection zone 14 hours ago
- Quick detection of H5N1 avian influenza virus by surface enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) using aptamer capture 14 hours ago
- The critical role of RAGE in severe influenza infection: A target for control of inflammatory response in the disease 15 hours ago
- Human infection caused by avian influenza A (H10N5) virus 15 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]