A new study by researchers at UCL and UCLH warns that the increased use of ventilation and portable air cleaners (PACs) in hospitals, designed to reduce airborne viral infections, may have unintended consequences, potentially causing viral particles to spread more unpredictably. The study, published in Aerosol Science & Technology, tracked airborne particle movement in a typical hospital clinic.
Researchers simulated various scenarios using aerosol generators and particle counters to observe the spread of particles, similar to those from respiratory infections like SARS-CoV-2. They discovered that, while air cleaners and ventilation can reduce particle spread in some cases, they may unintentionally increase aerosol migration in others. For example, the use of large PACs increased spread by up to 29% between neighboring rooms, and built-in ventilation could increase particle migration by as much as 5.5 times compared to no ventilation.
The study emphasized that airflow dynamics are complex, and device placement in hospitals must be carefully considered to avoid exacerbating the problem. The researchers hope their findings will inform better infection control practices and contribute to developing AI systems to model airflow patterns, aiding future hospital designs and safety protocols.
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