| The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stressed | | | | vulnerability of modern healthcare facilities against |
| the importance of evaluating medical facilities for | | | | infectious diseases and infections. Patient-to-healthcare |
| atmospheric contaminants in an effort to ensure the | | | | work interactions and the close proximity of infected |
| safety of both healthcare workers and patients. | | | | patients greatly amplified transmission of SARS within |
| Like homes and commercial buildings, hospitals and | | | | hospitals. |
| other medical facilities have also been built to be more | | | | The above referenced situation is just one example of |
| air-tight in order to conserve energy. Because of these | | | | how air quality in medical environments is crucial, and |
| energy-saving efforts, air flow rate is decreased, | | | | medical-grade air purifiers can both enhance air quality |
| causing an increase in airborne contaminants and even | | | | and reduce the amount of harmful airborne pollutants |
| air stagnation. Poor air quality in medical facilities not | | | | that could cause infections and complications. In the |
| only affects medical staff, but it is also detrimental to | | | | medical setting, air purifiers using HEPA technology are |
| patients, especially those in the postoperative setting | | | | excellent at improving air quality because they filter out |
| where contaminant-free air is absolutely imperative. | | | | 99.97% of particulates larger than 0.3 microns. In |
| Although central air purification systems exist in most | | | | addition, these types of air purifiers do not emit ozone, |
| operating rooms, patient rooms, waiting rooms, and the | | | | which, after prolonged exposure, can be harmful to |
| general hospital environment is still highly susceptible to | | | | both patients and staff. In fact, shortly after the |
| airborne biological contaminants such as viruses, | | | | September 11th attacks, the CDC endorsed the use of |
| bacteria, and microorganisms. Even in operating rooms, | | | | HEPA filtration in post offices to address the increased |
| debris such as paper fibers from clothing can clog | | | | risk of Anthrax. As well, the CDC also recommends |
| medical instruments and contaminate the air. In addition, | | | | the simultaneous use of HEPA filtration along with |
| drill aerosols, abrasion powder, and mercury vapors | | | | UV technology as the final defense against these |
| are common pollutants released in the air during dental | | | | diseases. Purifiers utilizing UV light are also important in |
| procedures. | | | | the medical setting, as they possess enough energy to |
| Poor air quality in medical environments can foster | | | | break molecular bonds, causing genetic and cellular |
| virus infections such as staphylococci, which can | | | | damage to microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, |
| cause complications during patient rehabilitation. | | | | fungi, and germs, and rendering them harmless. |
| For example, from November 2002 to July 2003, | | | | Because the quality of indoor air impacts the health of |
| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was a | | | | both patients and medical staff, medical-grade air |
| major pandemic that affected several Asian countries. | | | | purifiers may be able to supplement and improve on |
| This widespread respiratory disease highlighted the | | | | existing air purification systems in the medical setting. |