Win the Fight Against Airborne Particles for a Safer Healthcare Facility

Infection control in healthcare settings is no easy task. Even beyond the standard and constant flow of new people and germs, there’s an invisible threat lurking in the air: airborne particles. These tiny, often invisible contaminants can carry dangerous pathogens like tuberculosis, COVID-19, and other hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). For immunocompromised patients, exposure to airborne pathogens can drastically affect recovery and outcomes, making air quality an essential focus for healthcare facilities. 

What You Need to Know: Airborne Particles and Their Impact

Airborne particles in healthcare settings come from a variety of sources, including day-to-day activities, construction work, and renovation projects. Even minor construction activities can release harmful particles like dust, mold spores, and bacteria into the air, putting vulnerable patients at risk. The airborne dust generated during these projects is much more than a nuisance — it’s a potential health hazard and a reason that your facility could become non-compliant and lose, yes, a high standard of health and safety, but also potential funding and regulatory standards.

Pre-planning and containment measures are vital to your facility’s process of reducing airborne contamination during construction and renovation. Simple steps like sealing off construction areas with barrier walls, using dust containment carts, and making use of anterooms can significantly reduce airborne particles. These steps are your first line of defense against airborne contamination, protecting patients and staff.

The Power of HEPA Filtration in Combating Airborne Contamination

HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are at the forefront of combating airborne contamination. These filters used in airborne environments are designed to capture a high percentage of airborne particles, providing cleaner and safer air. However, not all HEPA filters are created equal — understanding the differences between standard and medical-grade HEPA filters is essential for healthcare facilities of all kinds and all sizes.

Standard HEPA filters (H10–H12) are commonly found in household air purifiers, HVAC systems, and cars. While effective for many general applications, they may not capture the smallest, most dangerous particles found in healthcare environments.

Medical-grade HEPA filters (H13–H14), on the other hand, offer a significantly higher level of filtration. They can capture 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.03 microns, including viruses and bacteria. For high-risk areas such as operating rooms, patient isolation units, and cleanrooms, these filters provide a critical layer of protection, helping to reduce pathogens in air and minimize airborne particle contamination.

When combined with innovative technologies like UV-C light, medical-grade HEPA filters can elevate air quality to new heights, providing your facility teams with a solution to eliminate airborne surface contaminants beyond what a HEPA filter is able to capture.

Powerfully Pairing HEPA and UV-C

UV-C light technology has long been recognized for its ability to deactivate a broad range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. When used in conjunction with HEPA filtration, UV-C light adds an extra layer of disinfection, neutralizing microorganisms that may pass through filters.

However, not all UV-C light is the same. Traditional UV-C light poses potential health risks, such as skin cancer and cataracts, making it unsuitable for direct use in occupied spaces. Far-UV-C light, operating at a specific wavelength that doesn’t penetrate the outer layer of human skin or eyes, offers a safer alternative. It provides all the germicidal benefits without the associated health risks, making it an ideal choice for healthcare settings to reduce airborne contamination effectively.

3 Practical Steps to Reduce Airborne Contamination

1. Airflow Management: Proper airflow is essential for controlling airborne particles. Healthcare facilities should ensure their ventilation systems provide the required Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) for different environments. For example, operating rooms require more frequent air changes than general patient wards to maintain a clean and safe atmosphere.
2. Regular Monitoring and Maintenance: To keep air quality at optimal levels, it’s critical to regularly monitor filtration systems and perform maintenance checks. This includes changing filters according to manufacturer guidelines and ensuring negative air machines are operating efficiently. Routine maintenance helps prevent system failures and ensures consistent air quality.
3. Containment Solutions: Employ dust containment carts and barrier walls during construction and maintenance activities to minimize the spread of harmful particles. Anterooms are particularly effective at sealing off entrances and preventing contaminants from escaping into patient care areas.

Investing in Medical-Grade HEPA Filters for Maximum Protection: Cost vs. Benefit

While medical-grade HEPA filters and advanced UV-C systems may require an upfront investment, their long-term benefits far outweigh the costs by reducing infection rates, shortening patient recovery times, and minimizing staff sick days. Here’s why investing in these systems is a smart choice for healthcare facilities:

• Enhanced Patient and Staff Safety

• Reduced Infections: Medical-grade HEPA filters capture 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, significantly lowering the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This leads to faster recoveries, reduced treatment costs, and healthier staff with fewer sick days.
• Cost Savings: By preventing HAIs, facilities can avoid substantial expenses associated with additional care, legal risks, and extended patient stays.

• Regulatory Compliance and Operational Efficiency

• Meeting Standards: Advanced filtration systems help meet strict OSHA, CDC, and ASHRAE guidelines, making sure your facility is compliant and ready for inspections.
• Lower Operating Costs: HEPAFORCE® machines use up to 88% less power, reducing operational costs while maintaining high performance.

• Future-Proofing Your Facility

• Adaptability for Emerging Threats: Investing in high-quality air filtration prepares your facility for future health challenges, such as emerging pathogens and pandemics, ensuring sustainable infection control.

Make a Strategic Investment in Health and Safety

Investing in advanced medical-grade HEPA filtration and UV-C technology can drastically reduce infection rates, enhance recovery times, and maintain compliance with critical safety standards. These systems aren’t only operational upgrades — they are powerful, strategic investments in the health and safety of everyone within your facility, from patients to construction teams to frontline medical staff.

With constantly changing health challenges, such as new pathogens and increased regulatory scrutiny, now is the time to take decisive steps toward improving your facility’s air quality. 

Take the next step in creating a safer, healthier facility. Download our comprehensive guide on HEPA vs. ULPA filters to explore how you can elevate your air quality strategy and ensure that your healthcare facility is equipped to meet the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.