Airborne Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities
As you are aware pathogens in health-care environments pose a particular risk to immunocompromised patients who may inhale dust particles that carry fungal spores, bacteria and viruses. Airborne microorranisms can not only complicate recovery from surgery but also lead to life-threatening infections.
Nosocomial (hospital-acquired) aspergillosis, for example, has been recognised increasingly as a cause of severe illness and high mortality in immunocompromised patients, e.g., patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or organ transplants, including bone-marrow transplants.
In light of the marked increase in nosocomial infections over recent years, many of which arc caused by drug-resistent pathogens’, the importance of using high-efficiency air filtration systems beyond the confines of so-called “critical” areas (such as operation theatres), has once again been emphasised. Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). advise that, wherever possible, preventive infection control measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections.
