Indoor environmental quality and infection control in surgery rooms: Code requirements vs. performance motivation. A critical review

Montanya, Eduard Cubi; Salom, Jaume; Soriano, Núria Garrido

doi:10.1080/10789669.2014.929423

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Furthermore, the air quality in operating rooms is an important factor that may contribute to surgical site infections [16,17]. The use of HVAC systems in healthcare buildings is important to ensure the circulation of clean air and in order to prevent hospital infections, but at the same time, they require significant amounts of energy to operate [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiological Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems of Surgical and Intensive Care Areas: The Application of a Disinfection Procedure for Dehumidification Devices

et al. 2019

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International literature data report that the increase of infectious risk may be due to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems contaminated by airborne pathogens. Moreover, the presence of complex rotating dehumidification wheels (RDWs) may complicate the cleaning and disinfection procedures of the HVAC systems. We evaluated the efficacy of a disinfection strategy applied to the RDW of two hospitals’ HVAC systems. Hospitals have four RDW systems related to the surgical areas (SA1 and SA2) and to the intensive and sub-intensive care (IC and sIC) units. Microbiological air and surface analyses were performed in HVAC systems, before and after the disinfection treatment. Hydrogen peroxide (12%) with silver ions (10 mg/L) was aerosolized in all the air sampling points, located close to the RDW device. After the air disinfection procedure, reductions of total microbial counts at 22 °C and molds were achieved in SA2 and IC HVAC systems. An Aspergillus fumigatus contamination (6 CFU/500 L), detected in one air sample collected in the IC HVAC system, was eradicated after the disinfection. The surface samples proved to be of good microbiological quality. The results suggest the need for a disinfection procedure to improve the microbiological quality of the complex HVAC systems, mostly in surgical and intensive care areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiological Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems of Surgical and Intensive Care Areas: The Application of a Disinfection Procedure for Dehumidification Devices

et al. 2019

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“…Sterilizing spaces and service zones, such as laundry and bathrooms, should be negatively pressurized . In contrast, surgery rooms should continuously maintain positive differential air pressure to avoid particle infiltration . Protective environment rooms for immunocompromised patients (eg, AIDS) need to be kept at positive differential air pressure .…”

Section: Indoor Environmental Parameters Impacting Patient Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on the need and restrictions for surgery rooms and adjacent spaces, 5‐15 Pa (0.02‐0.06 in. of H 2 O) differential pressure was recommended, while others suggested up to 20‐25 Pa (0.08‐0.1 in. of H 2 O) …”

Section: Indoor Environmental Parameters Impacting Patient Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of indoor environmental parameters related to building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems on patients' medical outcomes: A review of scientific research on hospital buildings

2019

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The indoor environment of a mechanically ventilated hospital building controls infection rates as well as influences patients’ healing processes and overall medical outcomes. This review covers the scientific research that has assessed patients’ medical outcomes concerning at least one indoor environmental parameter related to building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, such as indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and indoor air ventilation parameters. Research related to the naturally ventilated hospital buildings was outside the scope of this review article. After 1998, a total of 899 papers were identified that fit the inclusion criteria of this study. Of these, 176 papers have been included in this review to understand the relationship between the health outcomes of a patient and the indoor environment of a mechanically ventilated hospital building. The purpose of this literature review was to summarize how indoor environmental parameters related to mechanical ventilation systems of a hospital building are impacting patients. This review suggests that there is a need for future interdisciplinary collaborative research to quantify the optimum range for HVAC parameters considering airborne exposures and patients’ positive medical outcomes.

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“…Besides, air quality in operating rooms is an important factor that may contribute to surgical site infections [16,17]. HVAC systems in healthcare buildings are important to ensure clean air and prevent hospital infections, but at the same time, they require significant amounts of energy to operate [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiological Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems of Surgical and Intensive Care Areas: Application of a Disinfection Procedure for the Dehumidification Devices

Totaro¹,

Costa²,

Casini³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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International literature data report that the increase of infectious risk may be due to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems contaminated by airborne pathogens. Moreover, the presence of complex rotating dehumidification wheels (RDWs) may complicate the cleaning and disinfection procedures of the HVAC systems. We evaluated the efficacy of a disinfection strategy applied to the RDW of two hospitals HVAC systems. Hospitals have 4 RDW systems related to the surgical areas (SA1 and SA2) and to the intensive and sub-intensive cares (IC and sIC). Microbiological air and surfaces analysis were performed in HVAC systems, before and after the disinfection treatment. Hydrogen peroxide (12%) with silver ions (10 mg/L) was aerosolized in all the air sampling points, located close to the RDW device. After the air disinfection procedure, reductions of total microbial counts at 22°C and fungi were achieved in SA2 and IC HVAC systems. An Aspergillus fumigatus contamination (6 CFU/500L), detected in one air sample collected in the IC HVAC system, was eradicated after the disinfection. Surface samples proved a good microbiological quality. Results suggest the need of a disinfection procedure aimed to improve the microbiological quality of the complex HVAC systems, mostly in surgical and intensive care areas.

show abstract

Indoor environmental quality and infection control in surgery rooms: Code requirements vs. performance motivation. A critical review

Cited by 9 publications

References 8 publications

Microbiological Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems of Surgical and Intensive Care Areas: The Application of a Disinfection Procedure for Dehumidification Devices

Microbiological Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems of Surgical and Intensive Care Areas: The Application of a Disinfection Procedure for Dehumidification Devices

Effects of indoor environmental parameters related to building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems on patients' medical outcomes: A review of scientific research on hospital buildings

Microbiological Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems of Surgical and Intensive Care Areas: Application of a Disinfection Procedure for the Dehumidification Devices

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