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Review
. 2016 Oct;26(5):666-78.
doi: 10.1111/ina.12267. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Role of mechanical ventilation in the airborne transmission of infectious agents in buildings

J C Luongo  1 , K P Fennelly  2 , J A Keen  3 , Z J Zhai  4 , B W Jones  5 , S L Miller  6
Affiliations
Review

Role of mechanical ventilation in the airborne transmission of infectious agents in buildings

J C Luongo et al. Indoor Air. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics such as those due to SARS, influenza, measles, tuberculosis, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus have raised concern about the airborne transmission of pathogens in indoor environments. Significant gaps in knowledge still exist regarding the role of mechanical ventilation in airborne pathogen transmission. This review, prepared by a multidisciplinary group of researchers, focuses on summarizing the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic studies that specifically addressed the association of at least one heating, ventilating and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system-related parameter with airborne disease transmission in buildings. The purpose of this literature review was to assess the quality and quantity of available data and to identify research needs. This review suggests that there is a need for well-designed observational and intervention studies in buildings with better HVAC system characterization and measurements of both airborne exposures and disease outcomes. Studies should also be designed so that they may be used in future quantitative meta-analyses.

Keywords: Airborne diseases; Airborne pathogen transmission; Epidemiology; Heating; Ventilating and/or air-conditioning; Ventilation rates; Ventilation systems.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Types of epidemiologic studies (adapted from Kleinbaum et al. (1982))
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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