Aerosol-Generating Medical Interventions on Suspected and Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

These recommendations apply to aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs) carried out on suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. In contexts of sustained community transmission, a risk assessment must be carried out to determine whether these recommendations shall also apply during AGMPs on individuals who are asymptomatic or have unknown COVID-19 status.

(See Section 4: AGMP management for patients determined to be at no risk of having COVID-19 [ “cold patients”])

A table summarizating the recommendations is available in the appendix.

In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a number of interventions and procedures are now considered AGMPs by medical societies while they previously were not. Many of these procedures are not backed by conclusive data that classify them as such, but are often associated with coughing produced during the procedure and by implication, the presumed production of small aerosols.

The Analysis section allows for a good understanding of the concept of an AGMP in relation to risk of COVID-19 transmission.