Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901, USA.
Am J Infect Control. 2013 Mar;41(3):254-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2012.04.330. Epub 2012 Oct 5.
The potential risks associated with "toilet plume" aerosols produced by flush toilets is a subject of continuing study. This review examines the evidence regarding toilet plume bioaerosol generation and infectious disease transmission.
The peer-reviewed scientific literature was searched to identify articles related to aerosol production during toilet flushing, as well as epidemiologic studies examining the potential role of toilets in infectious disease outbreaks.
The studies demonstrate that potentially infectious aerosols may be produced in substantial quantities during flushing. Aerosolization can continue through multiple flushes to expose subsequent toilet users. Some of the aerosols desiccate to become droplet nuclei and remain adrift in the air currents. However, no studies have yet clearly demonstrated or refuted toilet plume-related disease transmission, and the significance of the risk remains largely uncharacterized.
Research suggests that toilet plume could play a contributory role in the transmission of infectious diseases. Additional research in multiple areas is warranted to assess the risks posed by toilet plume, especially within health care facilities.
冲厕时产生的“马桶水沫”气溶胶所带来的潜在风险一直是研究的课题。本综述考察了马桶水沫生物气溶胶产生和传染病传播的相关证据。
对同行评审的科学文献进行检索，以确定与马桶冲水时气溶胶产生相关的文章，以及研究厕所在传染病暴发中潜在作用的流行病学研究。
研究表明，在冲水过程中可能会产生大量具有潜在传染性的气溶胶。气溶胶化作用可通过多次冲水持续进行，从而暴露后续使用厕所的人。一些气溶胶会干燥成为飞沫核，并在空气流中漂浮。但是，目前尚无研究明确证实或反驳与马桶水沫相关的疾病传播，而且该风险的重要性在很大程度上仍未得到明确。
研究表明，马桶水沫可能在传染病的传播中起一定作用。需要在多个领域开展更多的研究，以评估马桶水沫带来的风险，尤其是在医疗保健设施内。
