Infection prevention
that room. An air cleaner calculator can help determine this (
https://smartairfilters.com/uk/ en/learn/calculators/)
Why use a portable air cleaner? Upgrading the mechanical ventilation system to include high efficiency filtration can be expensive and requires remodelling but portable air cleaners, on the other hand, offer an alternative but cost-efficient solution. They are a quick, affordable, and versatile solution that adapts to changing indoor air quality (IAQ) needs. l A portable air cleaner is low-cost and uses substantially less energy than increasing mechanical ventilation.
l It can be moved to the source of the pollution, thereby offering localised filtration at breathing level, making it more efficient for infection control.
l Unventilated hospital basement rooms can be a hotbed for infection and thermal comfort is also an issue, as fans are prohibited due to contamination issues. An air cleaner not only offers filtration, but at top speed can also offer a welcome airflow.
l Not all PACs are equal. The proliferation of budget or noisy models that won’t provide enough filtration for the room size (at the speed it is run) can result in dissatisfaction with portable filtration as a viable solution
Conclusion The integration of portable air cleaners in hospitals offers localised filtration and is the best solution for balancing infection control with sustainability. With HEPA units, hospitals can significantly lower the concentration of bioaerosol particles in the air and improve IAQ which will enhance the safety of the patients and staff alike. Moreover, these are energy
efficient and will help lower the carbon footprint which aligns with the NHS’s objective of achieving Net Zero target. Portable air cleaners should be sized for
each room and awareness training for staff will ensure they remain running, creating a healthier and cleaner environment for all.
References 1. Tennison, I. et al. (2021) Health Care’s response to climate change: A carbon footprint assessment of the NHS in England, The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(2). doi:10.1016/s2542- 5196(20)30271-0.
2. Smartairuk (2024) The NHS has ambitious aims to be the world’s first Net Zero National Health Service, Smart Air UK. Available at: https://
smartairfilters.com/uk/en/2024/04/15/ hospitals-carbon-footprint/ (Accessed: 09 May 2024).
3. Net Zero care: What will it take? (no date) The Health Foundation. Available at: https://www.
health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/net- zero-care-what-will-it-take (Accessed: 30 May 2024).
4. Bolten, A. et al. (2022) The carbon footprint of the operating room related to infection prevention measures: A scoping review, Journal of Hospital Infection, 128, pp. 64–73. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2022.07.011.
5. MacNeill, A.J., Lillywhite, R. and Brown, C.J. (2017), The impact of surgery on global climate: A carbon footprinting study of operating theatres in Three Health Systems, The Lancet Planetary Health, 1(9). doi:10.1016/s2542- 5196(17)30162-6.
6. Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2022: Air Pollution. Available at: https://assets.
publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/1124738/chief-medical-officers-annual- report-air-pollution-dec-2022.pdf (Accessed: 30 May 2024).
7. Blocken, B. et al. (2021) Ventilation and air cleaning to limit aerosol particle concentrations in a gym during the covid-19 pandemic, Building and Environment, 193, p. 107659. doi:10.1016/
j.buildenv.2021.107659.
8. Clean lessons learned: Ventilation against infectious disease (2024) The Integrated Bioscience and Built Environment Consortium. Available at:
https://weareibec.org/clean- lessons-events/ventilation-infectious- disease/ (Accessed: 30 May 2024).
9. Smart Air UK (2023) The Air We Share - how to meet PHE guidelines for treatment rooms, Smart Air UK. Available at: https://
smartairfilters.com/uk/en/2023/12/01/ cleanair-clinics/ (Accessed: 08 May 2024). 10. Salmonsmith J, Ducci A, Balachandran R, et
al. Use of portable air purifiers to reduce aerosols in hospital settings and cut down the clinical backlog. Epidemiology and Infection. 2023;151:e21. doi:10.1017/S0950268823000092 (Accessed: 20 June 2024).
11. Capparè, P. et al. (2022) The usage of an air purifier device with HEPA 14 filter during dental procedures in covid-19 pandemic: A randomized clinical trial, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), p. 5139. doi:10.3390/ijerph19095139 (Accessed: 20 June 2024).
CSJ
About the author
This article was contributed by Sanathoi Bachaspatimayum, a Marketing Intern at Smart Air UK, (in collaboration with Sharon Isaac- Upton). Sanathoi holds two master’s degrees in ‘Media and Communication’ and in ‘Advertising and Public Relations’. Since joining Smart Air UK, she has learned a significant amount of clean air knowledge and now champions raising awareness and clean air initiatives through marketing and PR strategies.
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