Maintaining a high negative pressure in airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIR) of hospitals can help limit the dispersion of airborne contaminants and dust, according to an article on the Becker's Clinical Quality and Infection Control website.
A study in Annals of Work Exposures and Health found a high air-change rate in AIIRs does not ensure efficient removal of infectious agents in the breathing zone of a healthcare worker.
The researchers found the local airflow patterns are more important.
A high mean negative pressure between an AIIR and its surroundings was found to effectively curb particle transmission outside an AIIR.
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