Background

Controlling indoor air quality and the airborne transmission of infectious agents in hospitals is critical. The most hazardous particles and pathogens are not easily eliminated by traditionally passive air cleansing.

Methods

We studied the effect of a novel particle control technology on airborne particulate matter in 2 live real-world operating room settings and on pathogen survival in a microbiology laboratory.

Results

Particle control technology reduced operating room particle and pathogen loads by 94.4% in a community hospital operating room, and by 95% in an academic medical center operating room. The addition of particle control technology to a collector loaded with a biologic warfare surrogate resulted in a 95% kill rate of an anthrax surrogate ( Bacillus subtilis) within 3 hours.

Discussion

Deployment of this emerging technology could significantly reduce indoor air contamination and associated infections in operating rooms, hospital isolation rooms, and intensive care settings, as well as reduce inflammatory responses to airborne particles.

Conclusions

The particle control technology studied may protect patients from hospital-acquired infections, reduce inflammatory pulmonary disease, and mitigate exposure to biologic weapons.