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Title

Transmission of coronavirus by nebulizer: a serious, underappreciated risk.

Authors

Amirav, Israel; Newhouse, Michael T.

Abstract

This letter is in response to the news article by Wendy Glauser.[1] The current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases demands greater infection control precautions. Nebulizers generate aerosol particles in the size of 1-5 m, which can carry bacteria and viruses into the deep lung. However, despite a large body of evidence suggesting their lack of superiority or inferiority compared with metered-dose inhalers with valved holding chambers, [4] nebulizers are still widely used in many health care facilities (especially in the United States).

Subjects

CANADA; AEROSOLS; HEALTH facilities; COVID-19; INFECTIOUS disease transmission; CORONAVIRUSES; RESPIRATORY therapy equipment

Publication

Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), 2020, Vol 192, Issue 13, pE346

ISSN

0820-3946

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1503/cmaj.75066