Investigate the Aerosol Particle Distribution During Aerosol Generating Procedures

An Observational Study to Investigate the Aerosol Particle Distribution During Aerosol Generating Procedures

Massive number of clinicians were infected during the outbreak of COVID-19, which raised the concerns of utilizing "aerosol generating procedures", particularly the use of high-flow nasal cannula, noninvasive ventilation, intubation, bronchoscopy examination and pulmonary function test. There appears to be a trend to avoid those treatments. Instead, aggressive intubation might cause shortage of medical devices and add extra workload. Therefore, we aimed to do a clinical observational study to evaluate the aerosol generation in these procedures and explore the potential measures to reduce the aerosol generation or dispersion.

The intent is to monitor exhaled aerosol produced by COVID-19 patients pre and post aerosol generating procedures. Monitoring will occur at a distance of 1 and 3 feet from the subject's airway. This observational study will be conducted in standard patient hospital rooms (standard or negative pressure room).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients who are diagnosed as COVID-19 infection in ICU or Adult patients are indicated for pulmonary function tests

Exclusion Criteria:

• No need for any respiratory therapy