Aerosol-generating procedure

An aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) is a medical or health-care procedure that results in the production of airborne particles (aerosols) or respiratory droplets, which may be pathogenic.

Aerosol-generating procedures include positive-pressure mechanical ventilation including BiPAP and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), high-frequency ventilation, tracheal intubation,[1] airway suction, tracheostomy, chest physiotherapy, nebuliser treatment, sputum induction, bronchoscopy[2] and ultrasonic scaling and root planing.

The term became popular during the 2003 SARS epidemic, where small retrospective studies showed a higher rate of infection amongst healthcare workers in which the procedures had been performed. However this has come under debate in the COVID-19 pandemic. [3]

References
  1. El-Boghdadly, K.; Wong, D. J. N.; Owen, R.; Neuman, M. D.; Pocock, S.; Carlisle, J. B.; Johnstone, C.; Andruszkiewicz, P.; Baker, P. A.; Biccard, B. M.; Bryson, G. L. (2020-06-09). "Risks to healthcare workers following tracheal intubation of patients with COVID-19: a prospective international multicentre cohort study". Anaesthesia. doi:10.1111/anae.15170. ISSN 1365-2044. PMID 32516833.
  2. Tran K, Cimon K, Severn M, Pessoa-Silva CL, Conly J (April 2012). "Aerosol generating procedures and risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections to healthcare workers: a systematic review". PLoS One. 7 (4): e35797. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035797. PMID 22563403.
  3. Wilson, Nick; Corbett, Stephen; Tovey, Euan (2020). "Airborne transmission of covid-19". BMJ 2020;370:m3206. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3206. PMID 32819961.


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