Each year, about 1500 people die from air-borne infection in hospitals. Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, are now working actively to tackle this problem and reduce the level of air-borne bacteria in the operating room to a minimum.
Sadrizadeh’s research gains more significance as it becomes known that about 10 percent of all hospital beds in Sweden are occupied by patients suffering from bacterial infections such as staphylococcus, which have been caused during their time at the hospital.
Sadrizadeh, a PhD student, and Professor Sture Holmberg at the KTH have now published significant results of their research which could put a happy ending to this constant concern.
According to the research, air-borne bacteria in the operating room may contaminate the surgical wound, either by direct sedimentation from the air or indirectly, by contaminated sterile instruments. Reduced air contamination can be achieved with an efficient ventilation system.
Sadrizadeh’s research shows how designing the ventilation system so that patients perceive better thermal comfort and a separate supply and extract for each area can further reduces the spread of bioaerosols between zones.
The results of this project demonstrate that changes in the design of a hospital ward may potentially reduce the risk of transmission of airborne infection between patients and other patients, visitors, and health-care workers, and improve the comfort of the indoor environment.
The researchers hope that the findings will help prevent the death of 1500 people each year due to hospital infections.
MS
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