Application Note

ManualsBrandsFluke ManualsMeasurement toolsFluke 985

In the highly sensitive environment of a healthcare facility,

where both infectious patients and those highly susceptible

to infection receive treatment, it is essential to minimize the

possibility of infection and disease transmission.

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

Airborne particle counters

provide vital information for

maintaining indoor air quality

in healthcare facilities

One potential vector of infection

that must be managed is the air

circulating within the building.

Failure to correctly monitor and

manage indoor air quality can

add cost due to increased lengths

of stay, expose the institution to

liability and, more importantly,

expose patients and staff to

unnecessary risk.

In an effective indoor air qual-

ity (IAQ) program, a handheld

airborne particle counter such as

the Fluke 983 is an important

tool. Used in conjunction with

pressure and airflow testers, par-

ticle traps and laboratory

analysis, the particle counter can

provide facilities managers with

the data they need to detect I

problems, identify and address

root causes and verif

y when c

ditions ha

ve retur

ned to

acceptable levels.

Spec

ifically, a particle c

ounter

enables the healthcare fac

ility

manager to:

•

ocument baseline particle

ounts w

ithin a specific space

•

Detect when airborne particu-

late levels diverge from

baseline or “normal

” levels

•

Gain early warning of underly-

ing issues, such as changes

in operating procedures,

equipment malfunctions,

maintenance shortcomings or

failure to separate construction

zones from patient areas

•

Test particle levels after

changes have been made, to

ensure that remedies have

been effective

The use of handheld test instru-

ments has received endorsement

at the highest levels. According

to infection control guidelines

published by the U.S. Centers for

Disease Control in 2003, “the use

of handheld, calibrated equipment

that can provide a numerical

reading on a daily basis is pre-

ferred for engineering purposes”

in ensuring the proper and safe

operation of HVAC systems.

It must be clearly stated, how-

ever, that the particle c

ounter is

not designed to determine what

particles consist of or whether

the particles c

ounted pose a

threat of infection. Those judg-

ments must be based on

lab

orator

y analysis of particle

samples collected in the health-

care facility and cultured in a

lab

orator

y setting.

Technology

at Work

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
Airborne particle counters provide vital information for maintaining indoor air quality in healthcare facilities Technology at Work In the highly sensitive environment of a healthcare facility, where both infectious patients and those highly susceptible to infection receive treatment, it is essential to minimize the possibility of infection and disease transmission. One potential vector of infection that must be managed is the air circulating within the building.
PAGE 2
Sources of IAQ Problems in Healthcare Facilities The spread of infection through the indoor air is a serious potential problem in healthcare facilities. Such infections can stem from two sources: • Infectious agents produced by people inside the facility, such as Tuberculosis, Rubella (measles) and influenza • Agents normally present in the human environment that can endanger patients who have compromised immune systems. Such organisms include Aspergillus fumigatus, a common species of mold, and others.
PAGE 3
Sources of IAQ Problems AII and PE facilities provide a framework for limiting the spread of infectious agents, but they are not foolproof. Building design, inconsistent or inadequate operating procedures, poor maintenance and facilities construction and renovation projects all have the potential to cause problems. And in any case, protective facilities are not used for all patients. Even the best air filtration and airflow design can be defeated by inadequate maintenance or incorrect operation.
PAGE 4
Contamination Testing with Airborne Particle Counters Writing in HPAC Engineering magazine, Streifel said “when dealing with filtration testing, the verification data should be reflected with objective analysis by providing airborne-particle comparison with the specifications of filter Baseline Testing. To know efficiency for fan systems.
PAGE 5
i Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities, Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2003, page 20. ii Ibid, page 34 iii Interview with Andrew Streifel, April 22, 2005 iv Ibid, page 26 v Ibid, page 27 vi “Hospital Accreditation for Airborne Infection Control,” by Andrew J. Streifel, MPH, HPAC Enginering, March 2003, page 49.