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Controlling the spread of airborne infectious disease can be challenging for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Groups such as the Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI), US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) have written standards such as ASHRAE 170-2017 requiring positive room pressure and negative room pressure differentials for specific rooms. Airborne infectious isolation (AII) rooms require negative room pressure to contain airborne bacteria in the room. Operating rooms and protective environment (PE) rooms require positive room pressure to keep pathogens out.
Challenges in Controlling Airborne Infections
Hospitals and healthcare facilities face significant difficulties in managing the spread of airborne infectious diseases. These environments require precise control measures to ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare professionals. Implementing effective strategies to mitigate these challenges is critical for maintaining a safe healthcare setting.
Adhering to Established Standards
Standards established by organizations such as the Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI), the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) are vital for healthcare facilities. These guidelines, including ASHRAE 170-2017, emphasize the importance of maintaining appropriate room pressure differentials to control the spread of infections and protect health.
Specific Room Pressure Requirements
Different rooms within healthcare facilities require specific pressure conditions to prevent the spread of pathogens. Airborne Infectious Isolation (AII) rooms must have negative pressure to contain airborne bacteria, ensuring they do not spread to other areas. Conversely, operating rooms and Protective Environment (PE) rooms need positive pressure to keep harmful pathogens out, protecting patients and staff from potential infections.
Positive or Negative Room Pressure Differentials
Designing a hospital for positive room pressure or negative room pressure differentials is not enough. Room pressure differential must be monitored to ensure occupant health and to comply with standards. Two technologies are used to measure room pressure differential: capacitive pressure transducers and through-the-wall (TTW) pressure sensors.
Traditional: Capacitive Pressure Transducers
Hospitals traditionally use capacitive pressure transducers to measure room pressure differentials. This method uses plastic tubing installed in the walls to send the pressure from the rooms to the pressure transducer. The room pressure differential changes the capacitance between two membranes inside the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer determines the pressure differential by measuring this capacitance. Capacitive pressure transducers are best for measuring pressure transducers much larger than hospitals use for AII, PE and operating rooms. Temperature changes can affect the accuracy of capacitive pressure transducers. Capacitive pressure transducers are also vulnerable to drift, leading to false alarms if they are not frequently recalibrated.
Top Choice: Through-the-Wall Pressure Sensors
Through-the-Wall (TTW) pressure sensors use thermal anemometry to measure air velocity and direction through a small opening in the wall. TTW sensors convert the air velocity to pressure differential, just like pitot tubes are often used to measure air velocity by measuring air pressure. TTW pressure sensors are the most accurate way to measure room pressure differential. Most importantly, they are proven to be stable so the room pressure measurement does not need frequent calibration to remain accurate.
Preventing Infection with Hospital Monitoring and Control
Preventing Infection with Hospital Monitoring and Control
If you are involved with designing, building, or remodeling critical spaces for hospitals and laboratories, you can access TSI papers and guides on room pressure management.
