Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Eurosurveillance, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
O Mohr (
)<SUP>1</SUP>, M Askar<SUP>1</SUP>, S Schink<SUP>1</SUP>, T Eckmanns<SUP>1</SUP>, G Krause<SUP>1</SUP>, G Poggensee<SUP>1</SUP>
Citation style for this article: Mohr O, Askar M, Schink S, Eckmanns T, Krause G, Poggensee G. Evidence for airborne infectious disease transmission in public ground transport ? a literature review. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(35)
ii=20255. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20255
Date of submission: 24 July 2011 <HR>While guidelines on contact tracing (CT) after exposure to certain infectious pathogens during air travel exist, no guidance documents are available on CT in response to potential exposure on public ground transport. We reviewed scientific and non-scientific literature on transmission of airborne pathogens in public ground transport and on factors potentially influencing transmission. We identified 32 relevant publications (15 scientific and 17 non-scientific). Most of the selected studies dealt with transmission of tuberculosis. However, the relation between travel duration, proximity to the index case and environmental factors, such as ventilation, on disease transmission in public ground transport is poorly understood. Considering the difficulty and probably limited effectiveness of CT in ground transport, our results suggest that only exceptional circumstances would justify CT. This contrasts with the high level of attention CT in air travel seems to receive in international regulations and recommendations. We question whether the indication for CT should be revisited after a risk?benefit assessment that takes into account exposure in both ground and air transport.
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Eurosurveillance, Volume 17, Issue 35, 30 August 2012
Review articles
Evidence for airborne infectious disease transmission in public ground transport ? a literature review
Review articles
Evidence for airborne infectious disease transmission in public ground transport ? a literature review
O Mohr (
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Surveillance Unit, Berlin, Germany
Citation style for this article: Mohr O, Askar M, Schink S, Eckmanns T, Krause G, Poggensee G. Evidence for airborne infectious disease transmission in public ground transport ? a literature review. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(35)
ii=20255. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20255 Date of submission: 24 July 2011 <HR>While guidelines on contact tracing (CT) after exposure to certain infectious pathogens during air travel exist, no guidance documents are available on CT in response to potential exposure on public ground transport. We reviewed scientific and non-scientific literature on transmission of airborne pathogens in public ground transport and on factors potentially influencing transmission. We identified 32 relevant publications (15 scientific and 17 non-scientific). Most of the selected studies dealt with transmission of tuberculosis. However, the relation between travel duration, proximity to the index case and environmental factors, such as ventilation, on disease transmission in public ground transport is poorly understood. Considering the difficulty and probably limited effectiveness of CT in ground transport, our results suggest that only exceptional circumstances would justify CT. This contrasts with the high level of attention CT in air travel seems to receive in international regulations and recommendations. We question whether the indication for CT should be revisited after a risk?benefit assessment that takes into account exposure in both ground and air transport.