Researchers released carbon dioxide throughout a 200 square meter, 30-bed ward, simulating patients’ breaths, and traced the concentration of the gas over time to measure exposure at each bed and quantify infection risk.
With open windows, the ward underwent between 3.4 and 6.5 air changes per hour, and infection risk was low. However, closed windows caused each patient’s simulated exposure to increase fourfold, increasing their risk of infection.
The study found that physical partitions between beds reduced exposure slightly but did not compensate for poor ventilation. Taking into account weather restrictions, the study suggests that hybrid mechanical (extract fans) and natural (open windows) ventilation may be the best year-round solution.
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