Airborne

Sammanfattning: Airborne diseases are spread when droplets containing pathogens, viruses and/or bacteria, are expelled into the air due to coughing, sneezing or talking. These droplets, or aerosols, can remain suspended in the air for quite some time in contained environments. Diseases are also transmitted by close physical contact and by rubbing eyes, mouth and nose after touching a contaminated surface. Radically increased mobility among humans, our treatment of animals and climate changes have increased the frequency of epidemics and the probability that a novel or mutated virus can spread rapidly. With the help of WHO and a high level of international collaboration and transparency, more alarms of pandemic alerts will be heard. The research of this topic begun with news articles about current viral events and the bigger picture; pandemics. This was accompanied by a deeper dive into the world of viruses and airborne diseases by the help of scientific articles. Interviews with experts in the field; a Surgeon, Infectious Disease Specialist, Infection Control Practitioner and a Health Care Hygiene Specialist lead to an understanding of why today’s respiratory masks are not efficient enough and why we are not relying on physical barriers today. The specialists could provide with more scientific articles on the topic of constraints and threats with respirators and also when and where the risks of transmission occurs. Microorganisms can penetrate through respirator filters, sealing surfaces or other parts of the respirator. Wearing disposable and reusable respirators causes difficulties in breathing and communicating. The chosen strategy was to avoid a health threat rather than curing a symptom. The intended target group is individuals whom due to their profession are exposed to many others while being in a confined space. These people could be a danger to others should they become infectious themselves. The conceptual respirator was developed firstly by sketching and by making rough prototypes for testing. The final concept can be reused for weeks with disposable filters and a full face piece respirator and it prevents the three ways of transmission. The respirator consists of a lightweight plastic visor which is combined with adhesive and stretchy silicone. The soft and gentle adhesive edges makes the respirator more effective and safe than disposable ones by completely sealing the edges to the face. Adhesive silicone is reattachable and reusable. This also prohibits casual and easy donning and doffing, which is linked to a higher risk of user error and contracting diseases. This new user scenario instead is in need of a mirror and sink and the donning and doffing therefor encourages a ritual of adequate hygiene of both hands and respirator. The impact of air travel on the spread of infectious diseases has given rise to considerable concern however limited research. During the early phases of a pandemic, strategies that rely on physical barriers will be more prominent and respiratory protection has been largely overlooked. A generally neglected possible portal of entry for viruses is the conjunctiva. Modern research on nanofibrous filtering material is welcomed news, as well as the aim to provide adequate information to the public in time.