Atmospheric CO₂ monitoring to identify zones of increased airborne pathogen transmission risk in hospital settings

Affiliations

¹ Lifelong Health, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The Microbiome and Host Health Programme, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: andrew.shoubridge@sahmri.com.
² Lifelong Health, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The Microbiome and Host Health Programme, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
³ Outpatient Support Services, SA Health, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁴ Women's and Children's Division, SA Health, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁵ Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Palliative Care, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
⁶ Lifelong Health, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The Microbiome and Host Health Programme, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia; SA Pathology, SA Health, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

PMID: 39369823
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.001

Atmospheric CO₂ monitoring to identify zones of increased airborne pathogen transmission risk in hospital settings

Andrew P Shoubridge et al. Am J Infect Control. 2025 Feb.

. 2025 Feb;53(2):266-268.

doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.001. Epub 2024 Oct 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Lifelong Health, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The Microbiome and Host Health Programme, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: andrew.shoubridge@sahmri.com.
² Lifelong Health, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The Microbiome and Host Health Programme, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
³ Outpatient Support Services, SA Health, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁴ Women's and Children's Division, SA Health, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁵ Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Palliative Care, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
⁶ Lifelong Health, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The Microbiome and Host Health Programme, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia; SA Pathology, SA Health, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

PMID: 39369823
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.001

Abstract

Measures to reduce airborne pathogen transmission in health care settings, such as increased air exchange, air decontamination, and reductions in peak occupancy, can be expensive and disruptive, particularly when employed in an untargeted manner. We report the empirical identification of high transmission risk zones in a tertiary hospital, using carbon dioxide-based assessments of air exchange. This rapid, cost-effective, and unobtrusive approach led to the targeted remediation of a high transmission risk zone.

Keywords: Airborne transmission; Outpatient care; Respiratory pathogens; Ventilation.

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Atmospheric CO₂ monitoring to identify zones of increased airborne pathogen transmission risk in hospital settings

Affiliations

Atmospheric CO₂ monitoring to identify zones of increased airborne pathogen transmission risk in hospital settings

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources