What is the effect of reducing the air change rate on the ventilation effectiveness in ultra-clean operating rooms?
J Hosp Infect
; 147: 115-122, 2024 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38423130
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The operating room (OR) department is one of the most energy-intensive departments of a hospital. The majority of ORs in the Netherlands have an air-handling installation with an ultra-clean ventilation system. However, not all surgeries require an ultra-clean OR.AIM:
To determine the effect of reducing the air change rate on the ventilation effectiveness in ultra-clean ORs.METHODS:
Lower air volume ventilation effectiveness (VELv) of conventional ventilation (CV), controlled dilution ventilation (cDV), temperature-controlled airflow (TcAF) and unidirectional airflow (UDAF) systems were evaluated within a 4 × 4 m measuring grid of 1 × 1 m. The VELv was defined as the recovery degree (RD), cleanliness recovery rate (CRR) and air change effectiveness (ACE).FINDINGS:
The CV, cDVLv and TcAFLv ventilation systems showed a comparable mixing character in all areas (A, B and AB) when reducing the air change rate to 20/h. Ventilation effectiveness decreased when the air change rate was reduced, with the exception of the ACE. At all points for the UDAF-2Lv and at the centre point (C3) of the TcAFLv, higher RD10Lv and CRRLv were measured when compared with the other examined ventilation systems.CONCLUSIONS:
The ventilation effectiveness decreased when an ultra-clean OR with an ultra-clean ventilation air-supply system was switched to an air change rate of 20/h. Reducing the air change rate in the OR from an ultra-clean OR to a generic OR will reduce the recovery degree (RD10) by a factor of 10-100 and the local air change rate (CRR) by between 42% and 81%.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Salas Cirúrgicas
/
Ventilação
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article