HEPA-14 air filters may not slow the spread of infections in aged care facilities

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-11-12 03:00

Australia; NSW; VIC

Photo by Claudia Love on Unsplash

Introducing air purifiers may not slow the spread of respiratory infections in aged care facilities, according to Australian research. The study included three NSW residential aged care facilities over six months. Portable air purifiers with HEPA-14 filters were placed in the rooms of one group while the other group received air purifiers without HEPA-14 filters for three months, before the groups were swapped over. The researchers say there was no clear difference between infection rates between the groups during the study, suggesting HEPA-14 filters may not have an effect. However, the researchers say there was an overall reduction in infections among participants who participated in the entire study, a finding they say is worth further investigation.

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Newcastle, Australian Catholic University, University of Wollongong, Monash University

Funder: This research was supported by scholarship number 3399950 from the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment RTP (Strategic Engagement Scheme) with the University of Newcastle, Australia (Mrs Thottiyil Sultanmuhammed Abdul Khadar), which provided financial support for the duration of the PhD program, and the RTP funding was provided by grant GNT 2008392 from the University of Newcastle, Australia. Industry partner GAMA Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd supplied the air purifiers required for the study.

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