Impact of Filtration Conditions on Air Quality in an Operating Room
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RESEARCH PAPER
Impact of Filtration Conditions on Air Quality in an Operating Room Marcelo Luiz Pereira1 · Rogério Vilain1 · Patricia Rocha Kawase1 · Arlindo Tribess2 · Lidia Morawska3 Received: 13 March 2020 / Revised: 10 September 2020 / Accepted: 3 October 2020 / Published online: 23 October 2020 © University of Tehran 2020
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the impact of ventilation and filtration conditions on particle concentrations in an orthopedic operating room. Total particle, viable particle, and C O2 concentration were measured under three different situations, namely before air filter replacement, after air filter replacement, and in an operating room with a new air conditioning system. Before air filter replacement, the mean values of airflow, total particle concentration, and viable particle concentration were 706 m3/h, 15.0 × 106 ± 4.0 × 106 particles/m3, and 57 CFU/m3, respectively. After replacement, the airflow increased to 1954 m3/h, and total and viable particle concentrations decreased to 0.4 × 106 ± 0.2 × 106 particles/m3 and 24 CFU/m3, respectively. In the room with a new air conditioning system, the airflow was 2051 m3/h, and total and viable particle concentrations were 0.3 × 106. ± 0.1 × 106 particles/m3 and 15 CFU/m3, respectively. The C O2 levels were 663 ppm (before), 659 ppm (after), and 574 ppm (new room). The results showed that inappropriate or no maintenance of filters in an air conditioning system had significant negative effects on indoor air quality in operating rooms. Air conditioning systems operating with saturated filters can be affected by pressure drop, which can lead to a reduction in airflow, thereby resulting in an increase in the average total particle and viable particle concentrations and the risk of infection in operating rooms. However, the results showed that the CO2 concentration was not affected by the filter replacement. Article Highlights • • • •
Improper maintenance of the air filters poses negative effects in operating rooms. Particles remain inside the room with less air exchange caused by saturated filters. Change in filters produces a greater effect on air quality in operating rooms. CO2 concentration generated by the people may not be affected by the filter replacement.
Keywords Indoor particles · Total particle · Viable particle · CO2 concentration · Filtration system · Operating room
Introduction Indoor air quality in operating rooms is a matter of great concern for patients and medical personnel (Dascalaki et al. 2008), especially because of the presence of a vast array of * Marcelo Luiz Pereira [email protected] 1
Instituto Federal de Educacao Ciencia e Tecnologia de Santa Catarina, São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil
2
Department of MechanicalEngineering, Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
3
International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
air contaminants, such as chemicals from medica
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