Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39802303›Full record

ReviewEClinicalMedicine2025

Interventions used to reduce infectious aerosol concentrations in hospitals-a review.

Gráinne Brady, Fiona Bennin, Rosaline De Koning, Cecilia Vindrola-Padros, Sigrún Eyrúnardóttir Clark, Manish K Tiwari, Simon Watt, Andrea Ducci, Ryo Torii, Danielle Morris and 11 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in EClinicalMedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Gráinne BradyDepartment of Targeted Intervention, Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), University College London, UK.
Fiona BenninDepartment of Targeted Intervention, Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), University College London, UK.
Rosaline De KoningDepartment of Targeted Intervention, Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), University College London, UK.
Cecilia Vindrola-PadrosDepartment of Targeted Intervention, Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), University College London, UK.
Sigrún Eyrúnardóttir ClarkDepartment of Targeted Intervention, Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), University College London, UK.
Manish K TiwariDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, UK.
Simon WattDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, UK.
Andrea DucciDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, UK.
Ryo ToriiDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, UK.
Danielle MorrisEast and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, UK.
Elizabeth Lloyd-DehlerLay Member, UK.
Jerry SlannInstitute of Occupational Medicine, UK.
Fiona StevensonInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, UK.
Zarnie KhadjesariSchool of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK.
Hakim-Moulay DehbiComprehensive Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, UK.
Lena CiricDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Healthy Infrastructure Research Group, University College London, UK.
Ruth EpsteinRoyal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
John RubinRoyal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Catherine F HoulihanDepartment of Virology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Rachael HunterInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, UK.
Laurence B LovatWEISS Centre, University College London, UK.

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for improved infectious aerosol concentrations through interventions that reduce the transmission of airborne infections. The aims of this review were to map the existing literature on interventions used to improve infectious aerosol concentrations in hospitals and understand challenges in their implementation. Methods: We reviewed peer-reviewed articles identified on three databases, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception to July 2024. 6417 articles were identified, 160 were reviewed and 18 were included. Findings: Results on aerosol concentration were discussed in terms of three categories: (1) filtration and inactivation of aerosol particles; (2) effect of airflow and ventilation on aerosol concentrations; and (3) improvements or reduction in health conditions. The most common device or method that was outlined by researchers was high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which were able to reduce aerosol concentrations under investigation across the included literature. Some articles were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in terms of improving health outcomes for patients. Interpretation: The key finding is that infectious aerosol concentration improvement measures based on filtration, inactivation, improved air flow dynamics, and ventilation reduce the likelihood of nosocomial infections. However limitations of such approaches must be considered such as noise pollution and effects on ambient humidity. Whilst these efforts can contribute to improved air quality in hospitals, they should be considered with the other interacting factors such as microclimates, room dimensions and use of chemical products that effect air quality. Funding: This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (NIHR205439).

Indexed as

Air safetyFiltration deviceHospitalInfectious respiratory particlesVentilationVentilation device

Identifiers

PMID39802303
PMCPMC11718292

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.