- Note - I and many, many others involved with Ozone air
purifiers have been saying this for close to 20 years. Recirculating hospital
air is even more insane than putting bacteria-incubating carpeting on the
floor. Simple ozone air purifiers should have been standard in all hospitals
decades ago. Not to mention airplanes, buses and trains. -ed
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- A breakthrough in the fight against infections acquired
in hospital could be achieved thanks to pioneering new research.
-
- The project is investigating the use of ionisers to eradicate
airborne infections in hospitals ö a technique that could deliver
major health benefits and financial savings.
-
- Starting in December, the 3-year initiative will be carried
out by engineers at the University of Leeds with funding from the Swindon-based
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
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- Infections originating in hospital are a serious and
widespread problem, affecting around 10% of patients during their stay.
There is increasing evidence that up to 20% of these infections are transmitted
by an airborne route ö at a cost of £100-200 million a year
in England alone.
-
- The project will build on a recent successful study at
St James's University Hospital in Leeds. This found that using ionisers
to negatively charge air particles in an intensive care unit prevented
all infections caused by the Acinetobacter pathogen. Immune to nearly all
currently available antibiotics, Acinetobacter infections are a growing
problem in hospitals and can be fatal in some groups of patients.
-
- In the new project, the same team will set out to understand
the science behind this success and provide a firm basis for future use
of the technique. They will focus on the biological and physical processes
associated with negative air ionisation and airborne transmission of infection,
and establish guidelines for the effective use of ionisers in hospital
buildings.
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- Much of the research will be carried out in the University's
state-of-the-art aerobiological test facility, which was part funded by
EPSRC. The facility incorporates a 32m3 climatic chamber where temperature,
humidity and ventilation rate can be varied and controlled. The chamber
enables researchers to mimic various clinical environments and perform
a wide range of experiments involving aerosols doped with micro-organisms.
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- The project team is being led by Dr Clive Beggs of the
University of Leeds' Aerobiological Research Group. Dr Beggs says: "Negative
air ionisation could have a dramatic impact on a problem that has been
attracting increasing publicity and causing
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- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/12/031202070209.htm
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-
- Comment
- From Liz
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- Hi Jeff:)
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- I'm sorry, No Duhhhhhh, I couldn't resist. How long has
this been said? The same for airplanes! I'm glad at least they're looking
that way now. Let's see how many hospitals will implement it now, and doctor's
offices, and airlines, and office buildings. Anyone I'm leaving out? Feel
free to add to the list!
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