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Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Use of Capillary Aerosol Generator in Continuous Production of Controlled Aerosol for Non-Clinical Studies
Published on: April 12, 2022
Generation of Aerosols by Noninvasive Respiratory Support Modalities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Madeline X Zhang1, Thijs A Lilien2, Faridi S van Etten-Jamaludin3
1Institute of Physics, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Importance:
Infection control guidelines have historically classified high-flow nasal oxygen and noninvasive ventilation as aerosol-generating procedures that require specialized infection prevention and control measures.
Objective:
To evaluate the current evidence that high-flow nasal oxygen and noninvasive ventilation are associated with pathogen-laden aerosols and aerosol generation.
Data Sources:
A systematic search of EMBASE and PubMed/MEDLINE up to March 15, 2023, and CINAHL and ClinicalTrials.gov up to August 1, 2023, was performed.
Study Selection:
Observational and (quasi-)experimental studies of patients or healthy volunteers supported with high-flow nasal oxygen or noninvasive ventilation were selected.
Data Extraction And Synthesis:
Three reviewers were involved in independent study screening, assessment of risk of bias, and data extraction. Data from observational studies were pooled using a random-effects model at both sample and patient levels. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the influence of model choice.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
The main outcomes were the detection of pathogens in air samples and the quantity of aerosol particles.
Results:
Twenty-four studies were included, of which 12 involved measurements in patients and 15 in healthy volunteers. Five observational studies on SARS-CoV-2 detection in a total of 212 air samples during high-flow nasal oxygen in 152 patients with COVID-19 were pooled for meta-analysis. There was no association between high-flow nasal oxygen and pathogen-laden aerosols (odds ratios for positive samples, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.15-3.55] at the sample level and 0.80 [95% CI, 0.14-4.59] at the patient level). Two studies assessed SARS-CoV-2 detection during noninvasive ventilation (84 air samples from 72 patients). There was no association between noninvasive ventilation and pathogen-laden aerosols (odds ratios for positive samples, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.03-4.63] at the sample level and 0.43 [95% CI, 0.01-27.12] at the patient level). None of the studies in healthy volunteers reported clinically relevant increases in aerosol particle production by high-flow nasal oxygen or noninvasive ventilation.
Conclusions And Relevance:
This systematic review and meta-analysis found no association between high-flow nasal oxygen or noninvasive ventilation and increased airborne pathogen detection or aerosol generation. These findings argue against classifying high-flow nasal oxygen or noninvasive ventilation as aerosol-generating procedures or differentiating infection prevention and control practices for patients receiving these modalities.
Insights
High-flow nasal oxygen and noninvasive ventilation are not associated with increased airborne pathogen detection or aerosol generation. These findings suggest current infection control practices for these procedures may not need differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Infectious Disease Control
- Pulmonary Physiology
Background:
- Historically, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) have been classified as aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs).
- This classification necessitates specialized infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
- The evidence supporting this classification requires re-evaluation.
Conclusions:
- This systematic review and meta-analysis found no evidence to support classifying HFNO or NIV as AGPs.
- The findings suggest that current IPC practices differentiating these modalities may not be necessary.
- Further research may refine understanding of aerosol generation during respiratory support.
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