New study published by Intensive care and Anastasia specialists at the Journal Anesthesia has found that Aerosol Boxes used to protect health workers from the Coronavirus does not work.
According to the researchers this is because of the particles which are escaping through the access holes in the Aerosol boxes.
The consequences of promoting such untested devices either includes a false sense of security or contradictory increase of health care exposure to the Covid-19, said study authors Peter Chan, Joanna Simpson and colleagues which are Intensive Care and Anesthesia Specialists
at Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia in a News release on Eureka Alert.
Results show that Aerosol boxes show an increase on Airborne particles at all size for five minutes and concluded that they contribute minimal to no benefit in containing the virus.
The study was done at Box Hospital, Melbourne with seven adult volunteers which includes four males and three females.
Research simulated the exposure of a health worker to the patient from the virus which are sized 0.3-0.5 microns with five different methods namely Aerosol box, sealed box with and without suction, vertical and horizontal drapes.
Then the participants we’re asked to put a bottle of fluid under their mouths and to cough every 30 seconds for five minutes and used a particle detection device in order to count the different size particles and assess how they spread.
Researchers were surprised to find that the Aerosol Boxes actually increase the number of Airborne Particles of all size for five minutes.
However, the final aerosol box tested was effective but it has a sealed enclosure rendering it claustrophobic and not useful for procedures, it does shows the degree of enclosure needed to achieve a result according to Peter Chan in an Email to Sci J.
“It also reveals that horizontal and vertical drapes are probably not effective either at reducing exposure although they may delay exposure to the operator however it was not statistically significant,” said Chan.
Chan also said that the since these devices are donated and not regulated, health workers are in a continuing risk of exposure to Covid-19 whilst thinking that they are safe.
There have also been other studies that support Peter Chan’s claim most recently according to him from the wiley online library.
Original news release from Eureka Alert: https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/a-sst071020.php
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