[EvaH (OP)]

Andrew wants to know:

Recently it was suggested that the alveoli of Covid-infected lungs seem to be compromised in their ability to produce surfactant. Earlier it had been observed that in some patients, viral infection establishes deeper in the respiratory system, and that these were the patients who became critically ill. And we know that, in general, surfactants destroy the lipid bilayer containing the viral RNA, which is why soapy water is so effective at nullifying the virus.

Is it possible that for (some) susceptible patients, their alveoli were not producing enough surfactant even *before* they were infected, and that’s why their respiratory tracts are susceptible to deep infection?

Can you help?