Determinants of respiratory tract aerosol generation in a diverse clinical population: an observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Respiratory tract infections are transmitted in part by infectious aerosol. Developing a greater understanding of how clinical and demographic factors affect aerosol generation could help to identify airborne infection 'superspreaders'.

Objectives

To measure respiratory aerosol from a diverse clinical population, exploring the impact of demographics, physiological factors and disease status.

Methods

We recruited people with chronic lung disease, respiratory infection and healthy volunteers. We sampled aerosol from an enclosed circuit to exclude background non-respiratory aerosol, uniquely enabling bedside measurements of respiratory aerosol generation from an unwell population, while participants performed simple manoeuvres such as speaking and coughing.

SUBMITTER: Nava GW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12699571 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature