Low-cost interventions to improve ventilation in long-term care facilities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Building Science

Background:

• Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are high-risk environments for communicable disease transmission due to vulnerable residents.
• Improving indoor air quality through increased air exchange rates (AERs) is crucial for mitigating airborne pathogen spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of low-cost ventilation interventions in increasing AERs within LTCF resident rooms.
• To assess the impact of opening doors, windows, and using fans on ventilation efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas was utilized as a tracer gas to measure AERs under various conditions.
• Measurements were taken under baseline (door closed/open) and intervention scenarios (window open, fan in window).

Main Results:

• Baseline AER with the door closed was 0.67 ACH, significantly increasing to 3.87 ACH with the door open.
• Opening a window increased AER by 1.49 ACH, and adding a fan further boosted it by 1.87 ACH.
• Increased airflow through windows, passively or with a fan, was strongly associated with higher AERs.

Conclusions:

• Low-cost interventions effectively enhance AERs in LTCF resident rooms by facilitating outside air intake.
• These methods offer a practical alternative to expensive HVAC upgrades for improving ventilation and reducing disease transmission.
• Implementation feasibility depends on facility policies and resident isolation needs.