Are positive-pressure ventilation lobby rooms effective for protective and source isolation?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infection control
• Environmental hygiene in healthcare facilities
• Infectious disease transmission prevention

Background:

• Isolation rooms are critical for preventing infectious disease spread in hospitals.
• Positive-pressure ventilation lobbies (PPVL) are increasingly used to enhance patient protection.
• The efficacy of PPVL in real-world clinical settings requires validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the in-use validity of positive-pressure ventilation lobbies (PPVL) for protective isolation of patients.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of PPVL in preventing airborne microbial contamination within isolation rooms.

Main Methods:

• Conducted air sampling within 48 positive-pressure ventilation lobby (PPVL) environments.
• Analyzed air samples for the presence of microbial contaminants, specifically Aspergillus fumigatus.
• Monitored engineering controls for ventilation systems.

Main Results:

• Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in only one (2%) of the 48 PPVL air samples.
• Demonstrated a low level of airborne microbial contamination in PPVL rooms.
• Highlighted the importance of both remote and local monitoring systems.

Conclusions:

• Positive-pressure ventilation lobbies (PPVL) are a valid and effective method for protective patient isolation.
• Continuous monitoring, including engineering controls and visual inspection, is crucial for maintaining safety.
• Periodic microbiological monitoring should be integrated with other control strategies for comprehensive infection prevention.