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. 2004 Mar;125(3):1155-7.
doi: 10.1378/chest.125.3.1155.

Dispersal of respiratory droplets with open vs closed oxygen delivery masks: implications for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome

Ron Somogyi  1 , Alex E Vesely, Takafumi Azami, David Preiss, Joseph Fisher, Joe Correia, Robert A Fowler
Affiliations

Dispersal of respiratory droplets with open vs closed oxygen delivery masks: implications for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome

Ron Somogyi et al. Chest. 2004 Mar.

Abstract

Nosocomial transmission of droplet-borne respiratory infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) may be influenced by the choice of oxygen face mask. A subject inhaled saline mist and exhaled through three oxygen masks to illustrate the pattern of dispersal of pulmonary gas. In two commonly used masks, exhaled gas formed a plume emanating from the side vents, while a third mask with a valved manifold, which was modified by adding a respiratory filter, retained the droplets. Maintaining respiratory isolation during the administration of oxygen may reduce the risk of the nosocomial transmission of respiratory infections such as SARS.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Subject exhaling previously inhaled saline aerosol mist while wearing nonrebreathing oxygen mask (top, A) and Venturi-type oxygen mask (bottom, B). The plume represents only exhaled breath because there was no oxygen flow into the masks.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Subject exhaling previously inhaled saline aerosol mist while wearing Hi-Ox80 oxygen mask without an added filter placed on the exhalation port (left, A) and with added filter placed on exhalation port (right, B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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