Clean air in hospitals and clinics helps protect patients and staff
The improvement of air quality in hospitals, clinics and other health-care settings is a vital constituent of modern airborne hygiene procedures. It is also of importance with regard to occupational health and safety requirements in medical institutions. Air cleaning provides a healthier and more pleasant environment for patients, staff and visitors. It also makes economic sense due to its relevance as a preventative infection control measure.
Air filtration requirements vary by department
The air quality requirements in health-care settings vary from department to department and often even from room to room. Some areas will require high-efficiency filtration of airborne microorganisms to protect patients, staff and visitors (e.g. in operation suites, Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Tuberculosis (TB) isolation rooms), whereas other areas require the filtration of gaseous contaminants, chemicals and odors to provide a safer and more pleasant working environment (e.g., in laboratories, autopsy rooms, dental surgery rooms, pharmacies).
The control of airborne microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungal spores, is of major importance in medical settings due to the fact that a number of diseases and infections can be transmitted by airborne pathogens.
Infections are a concern
Of particular concern are nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections. They can have serious consequences in terms of increased patient mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay and overall costs. Immunocompromised patients (such as organ and bone-marrow transplant recipients, oncology and hematology patients) are especially at risk as their immune systems are more vulnerable to infectious pathogens such as aspergillus.
IQAir stand-alone air cleaners have been shown to cut hospital aspergillosis infections by more than 50%. Also, IQAir's Cleanroom H13 air cleaner has been shown to reduce Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination.
IQAir also offers environmental control of chemical compounds and odours through filtration of ambient air, creation of pressure differentials (containment of chemical compounds and unpleasant odours through negative pressure areas) and through source capture (capture and filtration of chemical compounds and unpleasant odours at their source).