The agreed Trust list of AGPs is:

  • Intubation, extubation and related procedures such as manual ventilation
  • Open suctioning of the upper airway beyond the oropharynx (suctioning of the oropharynx is no longer considered to be aerosol-generating)
  • Tracheotomy/tracheostomy procedures (insertion / open suctioning / removal)
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Surgery and post-mortem procedures involving high-speed devices
  • High speed drilling involving mouth, sinuses and middle ear
  • Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ventilation (CPAP)
  • High-Frequency Oscillating Ventilation (HFOV)
  • High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO), also called High Flow Nasal Cannula (eg AIRVO or Thrive) – note that passive oxygenation by mask or nasal prongs is not an AGP
  • Induction of sputum using hypertonic saline for diagnostic purposes – note that assisting expectoration via physiotherapy is not an AGP
  • Trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TOE)
  • Upper GI endoscopy where open suctioning of the upper respiratory tract occurs beyond the oropharynx
  • External cardiac compression - Resus council (UK) has classified external cardiac compressions as an AGP and we are currently supporting this view

Note: Administration of medication via nebulisation is NOT an APG, nor is taking a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab.

Return to PPE Guidance