Bismi Thottiyil Sultanmuhammed Abdul Khadar1, Jenny Sim1,2,3, Julee McDonagh3,4, Vanessa McDonald1,5,6, Brett Mitchell1,7,8,9
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan New South Wales, Australia
2World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery & Health Development Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo New South Wales, Australia
3School of Nursing,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Liverpool New South Wales, Australia
4The Centre for Chronic and Complex Care, Western Sydney Local Health District, Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown New South Wales, Australia
5National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits, New Lambton Heights New South Wales, Australia
6Department of Respiratory and sleep medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Newcastle New South Wales, Australia
7School of Nursing, Avondale University, Cooranbong New South Wales, Australia
8School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne Victoria, Australia
9Gosford Hospital, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford New South Wales, Australia
Introduction
Adults living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) are highly susceptible to seasonal Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs). Evidence indicates that aerosols contaminated with virus particles in closed indoor spaces may play a significant role in ARI transmission. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of portable in-room air purifiers with High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filters in reducing the risk of ARIs among residents in Australian RACFs. We present a protocol for a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) that is currently underway in NSW, Australia.
Methods
A multi-center double-blinded crossover RCT is being conducted in three RACFs in a regional area of NSW. This 6-month trial commenced in the first week of April 2023. Participants are allocated air purifiers containing HEPA filters (intervention group) or without HEPA filters (control group). Following the washout period, in the second phase of the trial, participant groups are swapped.
Results
The primary outcome is the incidence of ARIs, secondary outcomes include the time to first infection, number of emergency department admissions, hospital admissions, and medical consultations due to an ARI. We hypothesise that placement of air purifiers in residents’ rooms will reduce the incidence of ARIs in RACFs.
Conclusion
To our knowledge, this is a world-first RCT using air purifiers in residents’ rooms to identify their effect in reducing ARIs in RACFs. If our findings indicate some potential benefit for in-room air purification, it will help provide support and justification for larger trials, which may include a facility-wide approach to air purification.
Biography
Bismi is a second-year Ph.D. nursing student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Australia. She completed her previous post-graduate studies at Irish universities. Her master’s dissertation explored the effect of nursing leadership in controlling infections in residential aged-care facilities (RACFs). Her Ph.D. project is titled ‘Identifying the Effect of air purifiers in Reducing the Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infections among Residents in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Randomised Control Trial.’