Evaluation of a Negative Pressure Aerosol Protection Box to Prevent Airborne Transmission of Sars-Cov-2 to Healthcare Providers in Pediatric Intensive Care

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: High contagiousness of SARS-COV-2 is caused by bioaerosols' emission. Clinical situations involving tissue manipulation with high viral load called "aerosol-generating procedures" (AGP) may increase this risk of healthcare providers (HCPs) developing infectious diseases. Our aim was to investigate the impact of an aerosol protection box, the Splash-Guard Caregivers (SGGC), on the presence of viral particles after an AGP. METHOD(S) Prospective observational study conducted between April and June 2020, including the HCPs in charge of children admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit who tested positive for COVID-19. SGCG (https//rsr-qc.ca/ Splashguard-cg/) was not used systematically and room patients analyzed were divided in SGCG+ and SGCP-. Virus detection was performed on the air one meter from the patient's head, also on the air near each HCPs (wearable pumps) and at each HCPs forehead (swab) after an AGP. Samples were analyzed for SARS-COV-2 RNA by qPCR. RESULT(S) Eight batches of samples were performed in the single room of SARS-COV-2+ child SGCG+ (n=3) and SGCG- (n=5), with five qPCR positive (10.2%) for SARSCOV- 2. Three (11.5%) among 26 analyses from the group SGCG- in the air before the AGP (n=1), in the air near HCP's head (n=1), and in the HCP forehead swab (n=1). And, two (8.7%) in 23 analysis of SGCG+ group in the HCP forehead swab (n=1) and in the air near HCP's head (n=1). None of the HCPs were infected by SARS-COV2. CONCLUSION(S) Our results document the presence of SARS-COV2 in infected children environment. The protection effect of SGCG needs additional research.