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Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019 During Nebulizer Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Goldstein, KM; Ghadimi, K; Mystakelis, H; Kong, Y; Meng, T; Cantrell, S; Von Isenburg, M; Gordon, A; Ear, B; Gierisch, JM; Williams, JW
Published in: J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv
June 2021

Rationale: There is an urgent need to understand the risk of viral transmission during nebulizer treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives: To assess the risk of transmitting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and influenza with administration of drugs via nebulizer. Methods: We searched multiple electronic databases, including PubMed®, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, preprint databases, and clinicaltrials.gov through December 1, 2020. Any study design in any language describing the risk of viral transmission with nebulizer treatment was eligible. Data were abstracted by one investigator and verified by a second. Results: We identified 22 articles: 1 systematic review, 7 cohort/case-control studies, 7 case series, and 7 simulation-based studies. Eight individual studies involved patients with SARS, five involved MERS, and one involved SARS-CoV-2. The seven cohort/case-control studies (four high risk of bias [ROB], three unclear ROB) found mixed results (median odds ratio 3.91, range 0.08-20.67) based on very weak data among a small number of health care workers (HCWs) with variable use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Case series had multiple potential contributors to transmission. Simulation studies found evidence for droplet dispersion after saline nebulization and measureable influenza viral particles up to 1.7 m from the source after 10 minutes of nebulization with a patient simulator. Study heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. Conclusions: Case series raise concern of transmission risk, and simulation studies demonstrate droplet dispersion with virus recovery, but specific evidence that exposure to nebulizer treatment increases transmission of coronaviruses similar to COVID-19 is inconclusive. Tradeoffs balancing HCW safety and patient appropriateness can potentially minimize risk, including choice of delivery method for inhaled medications (e.g., nebulizer vs. metered dose inhaler) and PPE (e.g., N95 vs. surgical mask).

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Published In

J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv

DOI

EISSN

1941-2703

Publication Date

June 2021

Volume

34

Issue

3

Start / End Page

155 / 170

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Risk
  • Respiratory System
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Humans
  • Health Personnel
  • Coronavirus Infections
  • COVID-19
 

Citation

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Goldstein, K. M., Ghadimi, K., Mystakelis, H., Kong, Y., Meng, T., Cantrell, S., … Williams, J. W. (2021). Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019 During Nebulizer Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv, 34(3), 155–170. https://doi.org/10.1089/jamp.2020.1659
Goldstein, Karen M., Kamrouz Ghadimi, Harry Mystakelis, Yuanyuan Kong, Tongtong Meng, Sarah Cantrell, Megan Von Isenburg, et al. “Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019 During Nebulizer Treatment: A Systematic Review.J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv 34, no. 3 (June 2021): 155–70. https://doi.org/10.1089/jamp.2020.1659.
Goldstein KM, Ghadimi K, Mystakelis H, Kong Y, Meng T, Cantrell S, et al. Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019 During Nebulizer Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2021 Jun;34(3):155–70.
Goldstein, Karen M., et al. “Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019 During Nebulizer Treatment: A Systematic Review.J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv, vol. 34, no. 3, June 2021, pp. 155–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/jamp.2020.1659.
Goldstein KM, Ghadimi K, Mystakelis H, Kong Y, Meng T, Cantrell S, Von Isenburg M, Gordon A, Ear B, Gierisch JM, Williams JW. Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019 During Nebulizer Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2021 Jun;34(3):155–170.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv

DOI

EISSN

1941-2703

Publication Date

June 2021

Volume

34

Issue

3

Start / End Page

155 / 170

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Risk
  • Respiratory System
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Humans
  • Health Personnel
  • Coronavirus Infections
  • COVID-19