• Yao He, Yu-bin Xing, Bin Ni, Yong Jiang, Ji-jiang Suo, Guang-lin Zhong, Qing Chang, and Bin Jiang.
• Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
• Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2005 Jan 1; 26 (1): 33-5.

ObjectiveBy measuring airflow and ventilation distribution of ward building, to explore and verify the hypothesis of airborne transmission and risk factor of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) nosocomial infection.MethodsTracer gas (perfume of plant oil) was emitted to the bathroom of wards when SARS index patient lived. Six different experimental situations were designed to control the status of exhaust fan in bathrooms, exhaust fan in the top of building and fresh air exchange system. The concentration of perfume was separately measured by 4 groups of lab workers and recorded blindly by the scores of "tenth degree".ResultsTracer gas was detected from the wards of 8th to 13th floor.ConclusionArchitecture and ventilation system of the inpatient building in the hospital contributed to the aerodynamic condition of SARS nosocomial infection through airborne transmission. The distribution of tracer gas in the wards was associated with SARS patients in this building. It was possible that SARS could have been transmitted to for distance by aerosol or other carriers.

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