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Cited by 611Infection Control and VentilationInfection Control in HealthcareRespiratory viral infections research

Transmission routes of respiratory viruses among humans

Open access
Kutter, Jasmin S, Spronken, Monique I, Fraaij, Pieter L, Fouchier, Ron AM, Herfst, Sander·2018·Current Opinion in Virology
DOI 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.01.001PMC PMC7102683
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Abstract

Respiratory tract infections can be caused by a wide variety of viruses. Airborne transmission via droplets and aerosols enables some of these viruses to spread efficiently among humans, causing outbreaks that are difficult to control. Many outbreaks have been investigated retrospectively to study the possible routes of inter-human virus transmission. The results of these studies are often inconclusive and at the same time data from controlled experiments is sparse. Therefore, fundamental knowledge on transmission routes that could be used to improve intervention strategies is still missing. We here present an overview of the available data from experimental and observational studies on the transmission routes of respiratory viruses between humans, identify knowledge gaps, and discuss how the available knowledge is currently implemented in isolation guidelines in health care settings.

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  • Physical interventions might prevent the spread of respiratory viruses transmitted by multiple modes including respiratory particles and direct/indirect contact.

    “Physical interventions, such as the use of masks and physical distancing measures, might prevent the spread of respiratory viruses which are considered to be transmitted by multiple modes of transmission including by respiratory particles of varying sizes spreading from infected to susceptible people and through direct and indirect contact (Kutter 2018; Leung 2021).”

    From Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · cites this paper as Kutter 2018

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes direct and indirect contact, droplets, and aerosols of different sizes as respiratory-virus transmission routes. The Discussion (page unavailable) discusses infection-prevention precautions, but the passages do not establish that masks or physical distancing prevent transmission; they also note limited evidence linking transmission routes to isolation guidelines. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Transmission of respiratory viruses is likely highly complex, dependent on multiple host, virus and environmental factors.

    “In addition, transmission of respiratory viruses is likely highly complex, dependent on multiple host, virus and environmental factors, plus the myriad of interactions between these factors, which may influence the predominant modes of transmission in any given setting (Broderick 2008; Hendley 1988; Kutter 2018; Leung 2021).”

    From Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · cites this paper as Kutter 2018

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2 of the 136 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [25]Karron R.A. Collins P.L. Parainfluenza viruses Wolters Kluwer L.W.W. Fields Virology 2013 Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 996 1023
  2. [63]Masters P.S. Perlman S. Coronaviridae Knipe H.D.M.P.M. Fields virology 2007 Wolters Kluwer, Lippcott Williams & Wilkins 825 858
  3. [94]Berk A.J. Adenoviridae Knipe H.D.M.P.M. Fields virology 2013 Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1704 1731

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Authors
Kutter, J. S., Spronken, M. I., Fraaij, P. L., Fouchier, R. A., & Herfst, S.
Affiliations
Erasmus MC (NL)
Corresponding author
Herfst, Sander
ORCID
Venue
Current Opinion in Virology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-02
Volume
28
Pages
142-151
ISSN
1879-6257 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.coviro.2018.01.001
PMC
PMC7102683
OpenAlex
W2786432367
Cited by
611
References
136
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 98 · 2021: 153 · 2020: 137 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1
FWCI
13.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Virology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Seventh Framework Programme (602525)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (91715372)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Infection Control and Ventilation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Respiratory viral infections research
Keywords
respiratory viruses, human-to-human transmission, transmission routes, airborne transmission, droplet transmission, respiratory infections, outbreak investigation, infection control, knowledge gaps
MeSH terms
Aerosols, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Influenza, Human, Measles virus, Influenza A virus, Respiratory Tract Infections, Retrospective Studies, Virus Diseases, Observational Studies as Topic

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