Open AccessSARS-Cov-2: The Relevance and Prevention of Aerosol Transmission
Author(s) -
J. P. M. van der Valk,
J.C.C.M. in ’t Veen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of occupational and environmental medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.712
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1536-5948
pISSN - 1076-2752
DOI - 10.1097/jom.0000000000002193
Subject(s) - airborne transmission , transmission (telecommunications) , social distance , hygiene , coronavirus , face masks , covid-19 , medicine , ventilation (architecture) , contact tracing , environmental health , intensive care medicine , disease , pathology , geography , infectious disease (medical specialty) , meteorology , electrical engineering , engineering
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), has claimed many victims worldwide due to its high virulence and contagiousness. The person-to-person transmission of SARS-Cov-2 when in close contact is facilitated by respiratory droplets containing the virus particles, and by skin contact with contaminated surfaces. However, the large number of COVID-19 infections cannot be explained only by droplet deposition or contact contamination. It seems very plausible that aerosols are important in transmitting SARS-Cov-2. It has been demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 remains viable in aerosols for hours, facilitating rapid distribution of the virus over great distances. Aerosols may, therefore, also be responsible for so-called super-spreader events. Indirect evidence points to a correlation between ventilation and the transmission and spread of SARS-Cov-2, supporting ventilation as an important factor in preventing airborne transmission. Further actions to avoid transmission of COVID-19 include social distancing, hygiene measures, and barrier measures, such as face-coverings. Professional masks offer better protection than cloth masks. These protection measures are especially relevant to health care workers, when performing endotracheal intubation, but the risk from non-invasive ventilation and nebulizing treatment seems to be moderate.