Leung Michael, Chan Alan H S
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Med Sci Monit. 2006 Mar;12(3):SR17-23. Epub 2006 Feb 23.
The complex hospital environment requires special attention to ensure healthful indoor air quality (IAQ) to protect patients and healthcare workers against hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections and occupational diseases. The aim here is to recommend effective guidelines for the control and management of hospital IAQ.
MATERIAL/METHODS: The authors have done an extensive literature review and conducted comprehensive IAQ assessments in nine hospitals. It is noted that the IAQ measurements are not presented in this paper because of confidentiality. However, the IAQ analysis was studied carefully in the development of the recommendations given in this paper.
The airborne chemical and microbiological contaminants of concern for hospitals have been identified and the major emission sources, monitoring methods, and exposure limits have been well documented and are reviewed here. Proper engineering system designs and operations are also reviewed, with recommendations for effective dilution and removal of the contaminants. The control and mitigation measures cover mechanical ventilation, filtration, differential pressure control, directional airflow control, local exhaust ventilation, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) disinfection. Their applications in critical environments, such as operating theatres, isolation rooms, and other typical units, such as outpatient departments and laboratories, are also considered.
Effective IAQ monitoring methods and mitigation measures suitable for the hospital environment have been identified. Accordingly, strategies for the implementation of a hospital indoor air quality management system are recommended. Healthcare workers, hospital engineers, and administrative staff can use the above as guidelines to manage and run their hospitals with healthful indoor air quality.
复杂的医院环境需要特别关注，以确保健康的室内空气质量（IAQ），保护患者和医护人员免受医院获得性（医院内）感染和职业病的侵害。本文旨在推荐有效的医院室内空气质量控制与管理指南。
材料/方法：作者进行了广泛的文献综述，并在九家医院进行了全面的室内空气质量评估。由于保密原因，本文未呈现室内空气质量测量结果。然而，在制定本文给出的建议时，对室内空气质量分析进行了仔细研究。
已确定医院关注的空气传播化学和微生物污染物，主要排放源、监测方法和接触限值已有充分记录并在此进行综述。还对适当的工程系统设计和运行进行了综述，并给出了有效稀释和去除污染物的建议。控制和缓解措施包括机械通风、过滤、压差控制、定向气流控制、局部排风通风和紫外线杀菌照射（UVGI）消毒。还考虑了它们在关键环境（如手术室、隔离病房）以及其他典型科室（如门诊部和实验室）中的应用。
已确定适合医院环境的有效室内空气质量监测方法和缓解措施。因此，推荐实施医院室内空气质量管理制度的策略。医护人员、医院工程师和行政人员可将上述内容作为指南，以管理和运营具有健康室内空气质量的医院。
