Evaluation of droplet dispersion during non-invasive ventilation, oxygen therapy, nebuliser treatment and chest physiotherapy in clinical practice: implications for management of pandemic influenza and other airborne infections

• Published in: Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) Vol. 14; no. 46; p. 131
• Main Authors: Simonds, AK, Hanak, A, Chatwin, M, Morrell, MJ, Hall, A, Parker, KH, Siggers, JH, Dickinson, RJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England NIHR Journals Library 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aerosols; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case-Control Studies; Confidence Intervals; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; droplets; Female; Global Health; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Influenza, Human - therapy; Influenza, Human - transmission; Male; Middle Aged; nebuliser; Nebulizers and Vaporizers; non-invasive ventilation; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy - adverse effects; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy - methods; oxygen therapy; pandemic influenza; Physical Therapy Modalities - adverse effects; physiotherapy; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Respiration, Artificial - adverse effects; Respiration, Artificial - methods; Risk; Risk Assessment; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Young Adult

Influenza viruses are thought to be spread by droplets, but the role of aerosol dissemination is unclear and has not been assessed by previous studies. Oxygen therapy, nebulised medication and ventilatory support are treatments used in clinical practice to treat influenzal infection are thought to g...