Chest compressions alone did not cause significant aerosol generation in this swine model. However, increased aerosol generation was detected during chest compression immediately following defibrillation. Additional research is needed to elucidate the clinical significance and mechanisms by which aerosol generation during chest compression is modified by defibrillation.

Aerosol-generating procedures, or the production of viral particles into the air, put health care workers at increased risk for infection of respiratory viruses. And while hospitals have safety measures in place to lessen the risk of exposure during these procedures, what if an emergency, such as cardiac arrest, happens outside of the clinical setting?

The new study, published in Resuscitation, analyzes aerosol generation during an unfortunately common emergency that requires a bystander to help a person in need: CPR.

Read More