A Review of Accidental Aerosol Generation in Laboratories and Laboratory-associated Infections

Introduction: Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) from exposure to infectious biological pathogens during laboratory operations present ongoing challenges despite modern biosafety measures. Notably, LAIs attributed to inhaling infectious aerosols continue to occur. Objective: This review aims to enhance understanding of the risks of LAIs associated with infectious aerosols. The first objective of this review is to summarize studies that have characterized the potential for accidental aerosol generation in biological laboratories and to synthesize these findings. The second objective is to examine past LAI incidents involving infectious aerosol exposure to identify knowledge gaps. Methods: A literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar databases with relevant keywords was performed. The results were screened to identify studies that reported LAIs related to aerosol exposures. Thirty-eight articles pertaining to LAIs involving infectious aerosol exposures from an initial pool of 63 articles were identified. Discussion and Conclusions: This review underscores the need for comprehensive safety protocols to mitigate risks associated with LAIs due to aerosol generation. It identifies critical gaps in understanding aerosol dynamics, such as particle size distribution and the influence of laboratory automation. The review also highlights the inadequacy of current LAI reporting practices, advocating for improved documentation and standardized methods to enhance biosafety in laboratory settings.