There Is a Risk of Spread During a Nebulization Session in a Patient with COVID-19

Christophe Thibon; Laurent Vecellio; Leila Belkhir; Jean-Christophe Dubus; Annie Robert; Benoît Kabamba; Gregory Reychler

doi:10.1089/jamp.2023.0010

There Is a Risk of Spread During a Nebulization Session in a Patient with COVID-19

J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2023 Oct;36(5):268-274. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2023.0010. Epub 2023 Aug 22.

Authors

Christophe Thibon^{1

2

3}, Laurent Vecellio^{4

5}, Leila Belkhir⁶, Jean-Christophe Dubus^{5

7

8}, Annie Robert⁹, Benoît Kabamba^{2

10}, Gregory Reychler^{1

2

3

5}

Affiliations

¹ Secteur de Kinésithérapie et Ergothérapie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
² Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
³ Service de Pneumologie, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
⁴ PST A, Université de Tours, Tours, France.
⁵ Group Aerosoltherapy GAT of the French Language Respiratory Society-Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française SPLF, Paris, France.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
⁷ Unité de Pneumologie Pédiatrique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire (CHU) Timone-Enfants, Marseille, France.
⁸ Aix Marseille Université, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
⁹ Pole épidémiologie et biostatistique, Institut de recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
¹⁰ Department of Microbiology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.

PMID: 37610849
DOI: 10.1089/jamp.2023.0010

Abstract

Introduction: A hypothetical risk of SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission through nebulization was suggested based on a potential environmental contamination by the fugitive aerosol emitted in the environment during the procedure. The aim of this study was to verify this risk from the fugitive aerosol emitted by COVID-19 patients during one nebulization session. Methods: In this cohort study, COVID-19 patients treated with nebulization were recruited at their admission to the hospital. Patients had to perform a nebulization session while a BioSampler^® and a pump were used to vacuum the fugitive aerosol and collect it for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. Results: Ten consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were recruited. The median viral load was 6.5 × 10⁶ copies/mL. Two out of the 10 samples from the fugitive aerosol collected were positive to SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: The risk of fugitive aerosol contamination with SARS-CoV-2 during nebulization has now been verified.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; nebulization.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Administration, Inhalation
COVID-19*
Cohort Studies
Humans
RNA, Viral
Respiratory Aerosols and Droplets
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

RNA, Viral