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Brady, Gráinne, Bennin, Fiona, De Koning, Rosaline, Vindrola-Padros, Cecilia, Clark, Sigrún Eyrúnardóttir, Tiwari, Manish K., Watt, Simon, Ducci, Andrea, Torii, Ryo, Morris, Danielle, Lloyd-Dehler, Elizabeth, Slann, Jerry, Stevenson, Fiona, Khadjesari, Zarnie 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2958-9555, Dehbi, Hakim-Moulay, Ciric, Lena, Epstein, Ruth, Rubin, John, Houlihan, Catherine F., Hunter, Rachael and Lovat, Laurence B.
(2025)
Interventions used to reduce infectious aerosol concentrations in hospitals—a review.
eClinicalMedicine, 79.
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Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for improved infectious aerosol concentrations through interventions that reduce the transmission of airborne infections. The aims of this review were to map the existing literature on interventions used to improve infectious aerosol concentrations in hospitals and understand challenges in their implementation. Methods: We reviewed peer-reviewed articles identified on three databases, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception to July 2024. 6417 articles were identified, 160 were reviewed and 18 were included. Findings: Results on aerosol concentration were discussed in terms of three categories: (1) filtration and inactivation of aerosol particles; (2) effect of airflow and ventilation on aerosol concentrations; and (3) improvements or reduction in health conditions. The most common device or method that was outlined by researchers was high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which were able to reduce aerosol concentrations under investigation across the included literature. Some articles were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in terms of improving health outcomes for patients. Interpretation: The key finding is that infectious aerosol concentration improvement measures based on filtration, inactivation, improved air flow dynamics, and ventilation reduce the likelihood of nosocomial infections. However limitations of such approaches must be considered such as noise pollution and effects on ambient humidity. Whilst these efforts can contribute to improved air quality in hospitals, they should be considered with the other interacting factors such as microclimates, room dimensions and use of chemical products that effect air quality.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Data sharing statement: Data collected for this review will be shared upon request. Funding information: This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) AIR SAFETY under its Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (Ref: NIHR205439). This research was also in part by the Wellcome Trust [Grant number 203145/Z/16/Z]. Rights Retention statement: As this research was also funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust [Grant number 203145/Z/16/Z], for the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | air safety,filtration device,hospital,infectious respiratory particles,ventilation,ventilation device,medicine(all) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion |
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| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jan 2025 01:04 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Jan 2025 01:02 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/98065 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102990 |
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