Industry News | 02.18.25
The Hidden Dangers of Hospital Ventilation: Are We Spreading Viruses Further?
By NAMSS Staff
Infection Control Today (01/30/25) Martonicz, Tori Whitacre
New research indicates that some hospital ventilation and air purifiers may redistribute viral aerosols instead of removing them. The study was set in a modern hospital outpatient clinic and used an aerosol generator to simulate viral particles exhaled by an infected person. The researchers found that built-in ventilation systems increased aerosol migration across the clinic significantly compared to when the system was turned off; large portable air cleaners (PACs) in waiting areas increased the aerosol spread between rooms by as much as 29%; and, due to unpredictable particle flow, the highest concentrations were found in rooms furthest from the source of infection. A key issue was the unpredictability of air flow in hospitals, as PACs, ventilation systems and human movement all affect air movement. While closing doors was very effective in reducing the spread of aerosols, the practicality of keeping hospital doors closed at all times is an issue. Researchers stressed the need for strategic PAC placement; rethinking ventilation design; door management; the potential of artificial intelligence-driven airflow monitoring; and, finally, the need for hospital design to adapt.
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