An aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) is a medical or health-care procedure that results in the production of airborne particles (aerosols) or respiratory droplets, which may be pathogenic. Aerosol-generating procedures include positive-pressure mechanical ventilation including BiPAP and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), high-frequency ventilation, tracheal intubation, airway suction, tracheostomy, chest physiotherapy, nebuliser treatment, sputum induction, bronchoscopy and ultrasonic scaling and root planing. The term became popular during the 2003 SARS epidemic, where small retrospective studies showed a higher rate of infection amongst healthcare workers in which the procedures had been performed. However this has come under debate in the COVID-19 pandemic and during this pandemic studies have been made that quantified the amount of aerosols produced by some AGPs and found that some AGPs generate less aerosols than a cough, so some AGPs may not increase the risk significantly above that of a patient breathing or coughing normally but data is still lacking for many AGPs.

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Category:Medical procedures {{med-stub