Desireé Gutmann1, Gerhard Scheuch2, Timon Lehmkühler3, Laura-Sabine Herrlich3, Anton Landeis3, Martin Hutter3, Christoph Stephan4, Maria Vehreschild4, Yascha Khodamoradi4, Ann-Kathrin Gossmann5, Florian King5, Frederik Weis5, Maximilian Weiss5, Holger F Rabenau6, Juergen Graf7, Helena Donath3, Ralf Schubert3, Stefan Zielen3. 1. Department for Children and Adolescents, Division of Allergology, Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: Desiree.Gutmann@kgu.de. 2. GS Bio-Inhalation GmbH, Headquarters & Logistics, Gemuenden, Germany. 3. Department for Children and Adolescents, Division of Allergology, Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. 5. Palas GmbH, Partikel- und Lasermesstechnik, Greschbachstrasse 3b; 76229, Karlsruhe, Germany. 6. Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. 7. Medical Director, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 is spread primarily through droplets and aerosols. Exhaled aerosols are generated in the upper airways through shear stress and in the lung periphery by 'reopening of collapsed airways'. Aerosol measuring may detect highly contagious individuals ("super spreaders or super-emitters") and discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected individuals. This is the first study comparing exhaled aerosols in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and healthy controls. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study in 288 adults, comprising 64 patients testing positive by SARS CoV-2 PCR before enrollment, and 224 healthy adults testing negative (matched control sample) at the University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany, from February to June 2021. Study objective was to evaluate the concentration of exhaled aerosols during physiologic breathing in SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive and -negative subjects. Secondary outcome measures included correlation of aerosol concentration to SARS-CoV-2 PCR results, change in aerosol concentration due to confounders, and correlation between clinical symptoms and aerosol. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in respiratory aerosol concentrations between SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive (median 1490.5/L) and -negative subjects (median 252.0/L; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences due to age, sex, smoking status, or body mass index. ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.8918. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of respiratory aerosols were significantly elevated in SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals, which helps to understand the spread and course of respiratory viral infections, as well as the detection of highly infectious individuals.
BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 is spread primarily through droplets and aerosols. Exhaled aerosols are generated in the upper airways through shear stress and in the lung periphery by 'reopening of collapsed airways'. Aerosol measuring may detect highly contagious individuals ("super spreaders or super-emitters") and discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected individuals. This is the first study comparing exhaled aerosols in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and healthy controls. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study in 288 adults, comprising 64 patients testing positive by SARS CoV-2 PCR before enrollment, and 224 healthy adults testing negative (matched control sample) at the University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany, from February to June 2021. Study objective was to evaluate the concentration of exhaled aerosols during physiologic breathing in SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive and -negative subjects. Secondary outcome measures included correlation of aerosol concentration to SARS-CoV-2 PCR results, change in aerosol concentration due to confounders, and correlation between clinical symptoms and aerosol. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in respiratory aerosol concentrations between SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive (median 1490.5/L) and -negative subjects (median 252.0/L; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences due to age, sex, smoking status, or body mass index. ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.8918. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of respiratory aerosols were significantly elevated in SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals, which helps to understand the spread and course of respiratory viral infections, as well as the detection of highly infectious individuals.
Authors: David A Edwards; Jonathan C Man; Peter Brand; Jeffrey P Katstra; K Sommerer; Howard A Stone; Edward Nardell; Gerhard Scheuch Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2004-12-06 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ramanan Laxminarayan; Brian Wahl; Shankar Reddy Dudala; K Gopal; Chandra Mohan B; S Neelima; K S Jawahar Reddy; J Radhakrishnan; Joseph A Lewnard Journal: Science Date: 2020-09-30 Impact factor: 47.728