A mobile device reducing airborne particulate can improve air quality

• Main Authors: Gabriele Messina, Giuseppe Spataro, Laura Catarsi, Maria Francesca De Marco, Anna Grasso, Gabriele Cevenini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIMS Press 2020-09-01
• Series: AIMS Public Health
• Subjects: healthcare associated infections; surgical site infections; ultraviolet disinfection; uv-c; airborne particulate; air quality; operating room
• Online Access: https://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/publichealth.2020038/fulltext.html

Surgical site infections are the second major cause of hospital acquired infections, accounting for a large part of overall annual medical costs. Airborne particulate is known to be a potential carrier of pathogenic bacteria. We assessed a mobile air particle filter unit for improvement of air quality in an operating room (OR). A new mobile air decontamination and recirculation unit, equipped with a crystalline ultraviolet C (Illuvia® 500 UV) reactor and a HEPA filter, was tested in an OR. Airborne particulate was monitored in four consecutive phases: I) device OFF and OR at rest; II) device OFF and OR in operation; III) device ON and OR in operation; IV) device OFF and OR in operation. We used a particle counter to measure airborne particles of different sizes: ≥0.3, ≥0.5, ≥1, ≥3, ≥5, >10 µm. Activation of the device (phases III) produced a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in airborne particulate of all sizes. Switching the device OFF (phase IV) led to a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of particles of most sizes: ≥0.3, ≥0.5, ≥1, ≥3 µm. The device significantly reduced airborne particulate in the OR, improving air quality and possibly lowering the probability of surgical site infections.