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Enhancing the control of respiratory virus spread: a comprehensive approach integrating airborne virus detection, aerological investigations, and airflow modeling for practical implementation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2025

Guillaume Mellon Open the ORCID record for Guillaume Mellon [Opens in a new window] ,
Nadia Mahjoub ,
Fabien Metivier ,
Nathalie Osinski ,
Audrey Gabassi ,
Constance Delaugerre ,
Emmanuel Vanoli ,
Cyril Crawford  and
Jérôme Le Goff
Guillaume Mellon*
Affiliation:
Infection Prevention and Control Unit, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France IPLESP, INSERM, Sorbonne University, Paris, France DMU PRISME, AP-HP Nord, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
Nadia Mahjoub
Affiliation:
Virology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
Fabien Metivier
Affiliation:
Nephrology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
Nathalie Osinski
Affiliation:
Infection Prevention and Control Unit, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
Audrey Gabassi
Affiliation:
Virology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
Constance Delaugerre
Affiliation:
Virology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France Université Paris Cité, Inserm U944, Biology of Emerging Viruses, Paris, France
Emmanuel Vanoli
Affiliation:
Dassault Systèmes, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
Cyril Crawford
Affiliation:
Dassault Systèmes, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
Jérôme Le Goff
Affiliation:
Virology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France Université Paris Cité, Inserm U976, INSIGHT Team, Paris, France
*
Corresponding author: Guillaume Mellon; Email: guillaume.mellon@aphp.fr
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Abstract

Objective:

Patients with chronic kidney disease suffer from immune dysfunction, increasing susceptibility to infections. The aim of the study was to investigate air contamination with respiratory viruses in a dialysis unit at a quaternary hospital using molecular detection techniques and to analyze airflow dynamics through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for a comprehensive assessment of air transmission risks.

Methods:

We conducted dialysis unit air sampling using AerosolSense™ samplers. Air and clinical sampling occurred during three periods in 2022: winter, early, and late fall. A technical team maintained the dialysis unit’s ventilation system during mid fall. Ventilation system capacity and airflow rates were measured. CFD simulations were used to evaluate airflow dynamics.

Results:

The investigation collected 144 air samples, revealing heterogeneous virus detection rates across locations and study periods. Virus positivity correlated with the presence of patients and the effectiveness of the ventilation system. The ratio of virus air positivity to virus patient positivity was 1.84 and 3.35 during the first and the second periods, respectively, and collapsed to 0.64 after maintenance. Airflow rate measurements highlighted a ninefold discrepancy between actual and theoretical airflow (393 m3/h vs. 3530 m3/h), which was rectified by maintenance actions. Airflow dynamics and particle dispersion visualization through CFD simulations contributed to a better understanding of transmission risks.

Conclusions:

Detection of viruses in the air, combined with CFD, revealed deficiencies in air renewal. Maintenance interventions significantly improved airflow dynamics and particle dispersion, reducing airborne virus spread.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , First View , pp. 1 - 10
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

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