Infection Control Today Magazine

Airborne Pathogens

Researchers Study How Microbes Travel Through the Air

Shane Ross, left, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, and David Schmale III, right, associate professor of plant pathology, physiology and weed science, both at Virginia Tech, are using autonomous aircraft to study how airborne microbes might ride ...More
September 9, 2011
Posted in News, Infections & Pathogens
Researchers Study Microbes Circulating in Urban-Area Air

Bacteria from fecal material -- in particular, dog fecal material -- may constitute the dominant source of airborne bacteria in Cleveland's and Detroit's wintertime air, says a new University of Colorado Boulder study. The CU-Boulder study showed that of the four Midwestern ...More
August 19, 2011
Posted in News, Infections & Pathogens
Controlling and Preventing Air- and Waterborne Infections

Pathogenic microorganisms are transmitted in numerous ways in hospitals. One important consideration is the role that the environment plays in pathogen transmission, specifically leading to airborne and waterborne infections. ...More
February 22, 2011
Posted in Articles, Disinfection & Sterilization, Environmental Hygiene
BSE Pathogens Can Be Transmitted by Air

Airborne prions are also infectious and can induce mad cow disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This is the surprising conclusion of researchers at the University of Zurich, the University Hospital Zurich and the University of Tübingen. They recommend precautionary ...More
January 14, 2011
Posted in News
Human Coughs Can be Pathway for Flu Transmission

Influenza is thought to be communicated from person to person by multiple pathways; however, the relative importance of different routes of influenza transmission is unclear. To better understand the potential for the airborne spread of influenza, William Lindsley, of the ...More
December 7, 2010
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
Hong Kong Hospital Reports Possible Airborne Influenza Transmission

Direct contact and droplets are the primary ways influenza spreads. Under certain conditions, however, aerosol transmission is possible. In a study published in the current issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, available online, the authors examined such an outbreak in ...More
November 22, 2010
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
ASHRAE IAQ Conference to Focus on Creating Infection-Free Environments

The 2003 SARS episode, the H1N1 pandemic and avian flu have transformed the built environment landscape, raising not only significant public health concerns but also economic implications on a global scale. Recognizing the challenge of controlling the spread of infection, ...More
October 27, 2010
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Study Suggests Home Humidifiers May Play a Role in Reducing Survival of Airborne Flu Virus

A new scientific study published in the journal Environmental Health indicates that the use of portable humidifiers in the home may reduce the survival of airborne influenza virus by controlling humidity indoors. Specifically, when homes are kept at the optimal 40 percent ...More
September 27, 2010
Posted in News
Negative Air Ionizers May Repel Acinetobacter from Some Plastic Surfaces

In recent years there has been renewed interest in the use of air ionizers to control the spread of infection in hospitals and a number of researchers have investigated the biocidal action of ions in both air and nitrogen. By comparison, the physical action of air ions on ...More
September 23, 2010
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
New Drug Could Help Stop the Spread of Disease During a Cough

What if there was a drug that could completely eliminate airborne disease transmission that occurs when someone coughs? Researchers at the University of Alberta believe they have found a way to achieve this. The idea behind this work came from Malcolm King and his research ...More
September 22, 2010
Posted in News