Journal of clinical engineering
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Ongoing controversy regarding the hazards of exposure of healthcare workers to ribavirin aerosol led to the design and evaluation of a ribavirin aerosol evacuation system that scavenges the excess ribavirin. An oxyhood was placed within a croupette oxygen and cool mist tent. ⋯ The ribavirin evacuation system reduced ribavirin ambient air concentrations from 54 ug/m3 (mean) to 11 ug/m3 (mean) without reducing patient exposure concentrations. The results suggest that the system evaluated is an efficient and inexpensive means of reducing incidental employee exposure to ribavirin aerosol.