Hospitals and Health Care

	More Information: • Anthrax • Cytotoxicity • DHHS Ventilation • Health Care Filtration • Infection Transfer • Infectious Diseases • Microbial Size Chart • Negative Pressure • SARS • Tuberculosis

Nowhere is air filtration more important than in health care facilities. The level of airborne infectious contaminant increases proportionately with the increased population density of infected individuals. Concern is not limited to hospitals, as many invasive procedures are now performed at outpatient facilities. Furthermore, the congregation of people endemic to these facilities increases the likelihood of contaminant transfer. Other types of health care facilities where there is a need to control air quality for health include nursing homes and dental offices or clinics.

Various authorities have established guidelines for levels of air filtration in health care facilities. Guidelines recognized within these recommendations include the United States Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Air filters offer excellent protection from airborne diseases in health care facilities, provided they form part of an overall air quality control programme. Components include air filters, air filter housings or holding frames, air changes supplied to the conditioned space, temperature and humidity control, outside air introduction and appropriate control of air flow to protect visitors from undue exposure. Some patients, for instance those in burn wards, require additional considerations for their protection.

The protection of facility employees is also of paramount concern. Clinical staff are subject to increased exposure to infected individuals. Support personnel are also subject to exposure. Proper application of air filtration and proper engineering controls can reduce the risks by a level of magnitudes. Furthermore, providers of service for the engineered air systems require engineering expertise and should be educated regarding the importance of the systems that they maintain.