Air purifiers for reducing the incidence of acute respiratory infections in Australian residential aged care facilities : A study protocol for a randomised control trial

Journal article


Thottiyil Sultanmuhammed Abdul Khadar, Bismi, Sim, Jenny, McDonagh, Julee, McDonald, Vanessa M. and Mitchell, Brett. (2023). Air purifiers for reducing the incidence of acute respiratory infections in Australian residential aged care facilities : A study protocol for a randomised control trial. Infection, Disease and Health. 28(3), pp. 239-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2023.05.006
AuthorsThottiyil Sultanmuhammed Abdul Khadar, Bismi, Sim, Jenny, McDonagh, Julee, McDonald, Vanessa M. and Mitchell, Brett
Abstract

Introduction: Adults living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) are highly susceptible to seasonal respiratory infections. Evidence indicates that the aerosols contaminated with virus particles in closed indoor spaces may play a significant role in the transmission of respiratory infections. In this protocol paper, we outline details of a planned RCT which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of portable in room air purifiers in reducing the risk of ARIs among residents in Australian RACFs.

This study uses a multi-centre double-blind randomised crossover design. Three RACFs in a regional area of New South Wales will be invited to participate in the study. Air purifiers with or without high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters will be placed in the rooms of residents who are enrolled in the trial. The primary outcome will be a reduction in the incidence of ARI and the secondary outcomes will be the time to first infection, number of emergency department admissions, hospital admissions, and medical consultations due to an ARI.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this will be the first RCT using air purifiers in resident rooms to identify their effect in reducing ARIs in RACFs. If our findings indicate some potential benefit for in-room air purification, it will help provide support and justification for larger trials, which may include a facility wide approach to air purification.

KeywordsInfection control; Cross infection; Nursing home ; Aged care ; Aerosols; Patient safety
Year01 Jan 2023
JournalInfection, Disease and Health
Journal citation28 (3), pp. 239-245
PublisherAustralasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
ISSN2468-0451
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2023.05.006
Web address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468045123000378?via%3Dihub
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range239-245
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online22 Jun 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted29 May 2023
Deposited18 Nov 2024
Additional information

© 2023 Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Place of publicationAustralia
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/91108/air-purifiers-for-reducing-the-incidence-of-acute-respiratory-infections-in-australian-residential-aged-care-facilities-a-study-protocol-for-a-randomised-control-trial

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 6
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Structured interactions between nurses and patients through intentional rounding : A scoping review
Al-Anati, Abdelrahman, Molloy, Luke, Sim, Jenny, Halcomb, Elizabeth and Frost, Shaun. (2024). Structured interactions between nurses and patients through intentional rounding : A scoping review. International Nursing Review. 71(3), pp. 492-503. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12984
Malaria vaccine efficacy, safety, and community perception in Africa : a scoping review of recent empirical studies
Chutiyami, Muhammad, Saravanakumar, Priya, Bello, Umar Muhammad, Salihu, Dauda, Adeleye, Khadijat, Kolo, Mustapha Adam, Dawa, Kabiru Kasamu, Hamina, Dathini, Bhandari, Pratibha, Sulaiman, Surajo Kamilu and Sim, Jenny. (2024). Malaria vaccine efficacy, safety, and community perception in Africa : a scoping review of recent empirical studies. Infection: journal of infectious disease. pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-024-02196-y
Effects of the nursing practice environment, nurse staffing, patient surveillance and escalation of care on patient mortality : A multi-source quantitative study
Al-ghraiybah, Tamer, Lago, Luise, Fernandez, Ritin and Sim, Jenny. (2024). Effects of the nursing practice environment, nurse staffing, patient surveillance and escalation of care on patient mortality : A multi-source quantitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 156, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104777
The effect of pressure injury prevention care bundles on pressure injuries in hospital patients : A complex intervention systematic review and meta-analysis
Chaboyer, Wendy, Latimer, Sharon, Priyadarshani, Udeshika, Harbeck, Emma, Patton, Declan, Sim, Jenny, Moore, Zena, Deakin, Jodie, Carlini, Joan Julie, Lovegrove, Josephine, Jahandideh, Sepideh and Gillespie, Brigid. (2024). The effect of pressure injury prevention care bundles on pressure injuries in hospital patients : A complex intervention systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 155, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104768
Pressure injury prevalence in Australian & New Zealand hospitals : Systematic review protocol
Rodgers, Kyrie, Sim, Jenny and Clifton, Ross. (2020). Pressure injury prevalence in Australian & New Zealand hospitals : Systematic review protocol. Collegian : The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research. 27(4), pp. 471-475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2019.11.003