Comparison of protected isolation techniques between the laminar airflow room and the life island unit.

The use of laminar airflow rooms and a life island unit for comprised patients was evaluated. Six patients spent a total of 170 days in the laminar airflow rooms and 112 days in the life island unit, and none acquired any exogenous infection. Patients were febrile for 7 out of 170 days (4.1%) in the laminar airflow rooms and 4 out of 112 days (3.6%) in the life island unit. No significant difference in the rate of deposition of organisms on settling plates and surface samples was found between the laminar airflow rooms and the life island unit. The advantages of the laminar airflow rooms are freedom of movement for patients and hospital personnel and patient comfort, while those of the life island unit are much lower purchasing and operating costs and portability.