Graduation Date

Fall 12-19-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Programs

Medical Sciences Interdepartmental Area

First Advisor

Joshua L. Santarpia, PhD

Abstract

Respiratory viruses, demonstrated by severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012, and coronavirus disease 2019 outbreaks, pose a recurring occupational hazard in both medical and laboratory environments due to their potential for aerosol transmission. However, quantitative research characterizing the generation and effective mitigation of these viral bioaerosols is limited. This dissertation addresses this gap by characterizing and mitigating viral aerosol risks across these interconnected environments through four studies: a historical review of aerosol-linked laboratory-acquired infections; a controlled laboratory study quantifying aerosol generation during routine procedures and simulated accidents; a hospital field study measuring viral contamination; and the design and testing of a patient emission mitigation tool. The laboratory work, using a viral surrogate, demonstrated that all tested procedures generated detectable aerosols. The hospital study revealed that activating workflow policies, such as limiting patient movement, reduced environmental viral persistence. Furthermore, the novel mitigation tool contained mock patient emissions during aerosol therapy while preserving treatment efficacy. These findings advance the characterization and mitigation of viral aerosol hazards for future viral respiratory outbreaks. Future work is needed to address strategies to mitigate occupational exposure to viral aerosols in laboratory and medical environments during outbreaks.

Comments

2025 Copyright, the authors

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Available for download on Thursday, December 10, 2026

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