Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
Department of HVAC System and Fire Protection Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
J Korean Med Sci. 2023 Aug 28;38(34):e290. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e290.
This research proposes a safety strategy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) walk-through booths to optimize pandemic preparedness. These booths, designed for respiratory sample collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively reduce infection risk and personal protective equipment-related fatigue among healthcare workers. However, inadequate disinfection and glove management could escalate infection transmission. Using computational fluid dynamics simulations, we analyzed droplet dispersion on booth surfaces and gloves under various wind conditions. Our findings suggest that when setting up COVID-19 walk-through booths, their location should be strategically chosen to minimize the effects of wind. All surfaces of booth gloves must be thoroughly disinfected with a certified disinfectant after nasopharyngeal swab collection. It is also recommended to wear disposable gloves over booth gloves when changing between patient examinations. In wind-affected areas, individuals nearby should not solely rely on the 2-meter distancing rule due to potential droplet spread from walk-through booths. We strongly recommend consistent and proper mask use for effective droplet blocking. Adherence to these guidelines can significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of walk-through booths, particularly in potential future pandemics.
本研究提出了针对冠状病毒病 2019（COVID-19）穿行式隔离亭的安全策略，以优化大流行防范措施。这些隔离亭是为 COVID-19 大流行期间进行呼吸道样本采集而设计的，可有效降低医护人员感染风险和与个人防护装备相关的疲劳。然而，消毒和手套管理不当可能会加剧感染传播。我们使用计算流体动力学模拟，分析了在各种风况下，飞沫在隔离亭表面和手套上的扩散情况。研究结果表明，在设置 COVID-19 穿行式隔离亭时，应战略性地选择其位置，以最大程度地减少风的影响。在采集鼻咽拭子后，必须使用经过认证的消毒剂彻底消毒隔离亭手套的所有表面。在进行患者检查之间，建议在隔离亭手套外面再戴上一次性手套。在有风的区域，由于穿行式隔离亭可能会有飞沫传播，附近的人不应仅仅依靠 2 米的距离规则。我们强烈建议始终正确佩戴口罩，以有效阻挡飞沫。遵守这些准则可以显著提高穿行式隔离亭的安全性和效率，特别是在未来潜在的大流行中。
