Importance of ventilation and occupancy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission rates in congregate settings.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ventilation rates are a key determinant of the transmission rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other airborne infections. Targeting infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions at locations where ventilation rates are low and occupancy high could be a highly effective intervention strategy. Despite this, few data are available on ventilation rates and occupancy in congregate locations in high tuberculosis burden settings.

Methods

We collected carbon dioxide concentration and occupancy data in congregate locations and public transport on 88 occasions, in Cape Town, South Africa. For each location, we estimated ventilation rates and the relative rate of infection, accounting for ventilation rates and occupancy.

Results

We show that the estimated p

SUBMITTER: Deol AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9483862 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature