Aerial dispersion of human exhaled microbial contaminants and subsequent contamination of surfaces is a potential route for infection transmission in hospitals. Most general hospital wards have ventilation systems that drive air and thus contaminants from the patient areas towards the corridors. This study investigates the transport mechanism and deposition patterns of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) within a typical six bedded general inpatient ward cubicle through numerical simulation. It demonstrates that both air change and exhaust airflow rates have significant effects on not only the airflow but also the particle distribution within a mechanically ventilated space. Moreover, the location of an infected patient within the ward cubicle is crucial in determining the extent of infection risk to other ward occupants. Hence, it is recommended to provide exhaust grilles in close proximity to a patient, preferably above each patient's bed. To achieve infection prevention and control, high exhaust airflow rate is also suggested. Regardless of the ventilation design, all patients and any surfaces within a ward cubicle should be regularly and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove microbial contamination. The outcome of this study can serve as a source of reference for hospital management to better ventilation design strategies for mitigating the risk of infection.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7090571 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0623-4 | DOI Listing |
Burns
December 2024
Department of Surgery, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
The overwhelming burden of burns in low-income (LIC) and low-middle-income (LMIC) countries has been well-documented. Though best global practice is for major burns to be treated in burn units, the prohibitive cost makes it difficult. In this article we attempt to present the improvement in outcome recorded over a period of 3 years as we transitioned from nursing our burns patients in the general surgical wards (Group A), then a separate cubicle within the wards (Group B) and then an isolated burn ward (Group C).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
February 2024
Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ventilation strategies for infection control in hospitals has been predominantly directed towards isolation rooms and operating theatres, with relatively less emphasis on perceived low risk spaces, such as general wards. Typically, the ventilation systems in general wards are intended to optimize patient thermal comfort and energy conservation. The emission of pathogens from exhalation activity, such as sneezing, by an undiagnosed infectious patient admitted to general wards, is a significant concern for infection outbreaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hosp Infect
December 2023
Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Electronic address:
Background: Nosocomial outbreaks of Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus, are increasingly reported worldwide; the mode of transmission has usually been reported to be via direct contact. Some studies previously suggested potential short-distance air dispersal during high-turbulence activities, but evidence on long-range air dispersal remains scarce.
Aim: To describe a C.
Background: Hospital transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has proved difficult to control, with healthcare-associated infections troublesome throughout.
Aim: To understand factors contributing to hospital transmission of infections, which is necessary for containing spread.
Methods: An outbreak of 56 staff and patient cases of COVID-19 over a 31-day period in a tertiary referral unit is presented, with at least a further 29 cases identified outside of the unit and the hospital by whole genome sequencing (WGS).
J Hosp Infect
October 2021
Infection Control Team, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hong Kong, China; Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address:
Aim: To describe the nosocomial transmission of Air, multidrug-resistant, Acinetobacter baumannii, nosocomial, COVID-19 Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) in an open-cubicle neurology ward with low ceiling height, where MRAB isolates collected from air, commonly shared items, non-reachable high-level surfaces and patients were analysed epidemiologically and genetically by whole-genome sequencing. This is the first study to understand the genetic relatedness of air, environmental and clinical isolates of MRAB in the outbreak setting.
Findings: Of 11 highly care-dependent patients with 363 MRAB colonization days during COVID-19 pandemic, 10 (90.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!