High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters to Prevent Winter Respiratory Infections in Care Homes: The AFRI-c Cluster...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Environmental Health Engineering

Background:

• Portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are known for their effectiveness in removing airborne microbes.
• Respiratory infections pose a significant health risk to residents in care homes, particularly older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of HEPA filters in reducing respiratory infection episodes among care home residents.
• To assess the impact of HEPA filters on staff absenteeism in long-term care settings.

Main Methods:

• A 2-arm cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted in English care homes for older adults.
• Homes were equipped with HEPA filters in communal areas and/or individual bedrooms, or served as controls, with data collected over one winter season.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was observed in respiratory infection rates between care homes with and without HEPA filters (adjusted incident rate ratio, 0.92; P=.67).
• Staff absenteeism rates also showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups (adjusted incident rate ratio, 0.80; P=.24).

Conclusions:

• The implementation of HEPA filters in communal areas and bedrooms of care homes did not lead to a reduction in resident respiratory infection rates.
• Care facilities should continue to rely on established infection prevention and control measures to mitigate respiratory and other infections.