Hospital- and nursing-care-acquired infections are a growing problem worldwide, especially during epidemics, posing a significant threat to older adults in geriatric settings. Intense research during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the prominent role of aerosol transmission of pathogens. Aerosol particles can easily adsorb different airborne pathogens, carrying them for a long time. Understanding the dynamics of airborne pathogen transmission is essential for controlling the spread of many well-known pathogens, like the influenza virus, and emerging ones like SARS-CoV-2. Particles smaller than 50 to 100 µm remain airborne and significantly contribute to pathogen transmission. This review explores the journey of pathogen-carrying particles from formation in the airways, through airborne travel, to deposition in the lungs. The physicochemical properties of emitted particles depend on health status and emission modes, such as breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, sneezing, playing wind instruments, and medical interventions. After emission, sedimentation and evaporation primarily determine particle fate. Lung deposition of inhaled aerosol particles can be studied through in vivo, in vitro, or in silico methods. We discuss several numerical lung models, such as the Human Respiratory Tract Model, the LUng Dose Evaluation Program software (LUDEP), the Stochastic Lung Model, and the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques, and real-time or post-evaluation methods for detecting and characterizing these particles. Various air purification methods, particularly filtration, are reviewed for their effectiveness in healthcare settings. In the discussion, we analyze how this knowledge can help create environments with reduced PM2.5 and pathogen levels, enhancing safety in healthcare and nursing-care settings. This is particularly crucial for protecting older adults, who are more vulnerable to infections due to weaker immune systems and the higher prevalence of chronic conditions. By implementing effective airborne pathogen control measures, we can significantly improve health outcomes in geriatric settings.

医院和护理获得性感染是世界范围内日益严重的问题，尤其是在流行期间，对老年人构成重大威胁。COVID-19 大流行期间的深入研究强调了病原体气溶胶传播的突出作用。气溶胶颗粒很容易吸附空气中的不同病原体，并长时间携带它们。了解空气传播病原体的动态对于控制许多已知病原体（如流感病毒）和新出现的病原体（如 SARS-CoV-2）的传播至关重要。小于 50 至 100 μm 的颗粒仍可在空气中传播，并显著促进病原体传播。本综述探讨了携带病原体的颗粒从气道中形成，经过空气传播，再到在肺部沉积的过程。发射粒子的物理化学性质取决于健康状况和发射模式，例如呼吸、说话、唱歌、咳嗽、打喷嚏、演奏管乐器和医疗干预。排放后，沉降和蒸发主要决定颗粒的命运。吸入气溶胶颗粒的肺沉积可以通过体内、体外或计算机方法进行研究。我们讨论了几种数值肺模型，例如人类呼吸道模型、LUng 剂量评估程序软件 （LUDEP）、随机肺模型和计算流体动力学 （CFD） 技术，以及用于检测和表征这些颗粒的实时或后评估方法。审查了各种空气净化方法，尤其是过滤方法，以了解它们在医疗保健环境中的有效性。在讨论中，我们分析了这些知识如何帮助创造减少 PM2 的环境。5 和病原体水平，提高医疗保健和护理机构的安全性。这对于保护老年人尤为重要，由于免疫系统较弱和慢性病患病率较高，他们更容易受到感染。通过实施有效的空气传播病原体控制措施，我们可以显着改善老年病患者的健康状况。