Abstract View
A Simple Effective Enclosure with Added Plastic Wrappings for Inexpensive Containment of Aerosolized COVID Viruses and Other Pathogens during Tracheal Operations
LUKE MONROE, Jack Johnson, Howard Gutstein, John Lawrence, Keith Lejenue, Ryan Sullivan, Coty Jen, Carnegie Mellon University
Abstract Number: 585
Working Group: The Role of Aerosol Science in the Understanding of the Spread and Control of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a severe respiratory virus that quickly progressed into a global pandemic in early 2020 and can be transmitted through aerosol droplets that are produced by coughing, talking, and breathing. Medical procedures used to treat severe cases such as tracheal intubation, extubation, and tracheal suctioning produce large amounts of infectious aerosol droplets due to uncontrolled coughing in a sedated patient. This presents significant risk for viral exposure of health care workers. Given the serious morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, preventing the spread of the virus from patient to healthcare providers during these procedures is essential. We tested a plastic enclosure to be used during intubation and extubation procedure in order to reduce aerosol spread and potential viral transmission. Four aerosol particle measurement instruments were used to verify the efficacy of aerosol containment using various techniques to seal side openings. The enclosure combined with two layers of plastic wrap sealing the holes reduced escaped particle concentrations (between 0.1 µm to 5 µm in diameter) by over 95% at 6 inches away from all sides. Furthermore, concentration decay experiments indicate that the enclosure should be left on the patient for 15 minutes following a tracheal procedure and cessation of any coughing to allow sufficient time for aerosol particles to settle upon interior surfaces. This enclosure is a cost effective, easily implemented additional layer of protection that can be used to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and other aerosolized pathogens between patients and healthcare workers during and following life-saving tracheal medical procedures.