2011年12月1日 星期四

Clearing the air

Quality-focused long-term care providers take infection prevention extremely seriously and go to lengths to ensure that hand washing and cleaning of environmental surfaces are a top priority.

Unfortunately,Ventilation fans are the workhorses of thesepanasonicventilationsystem, the same kind of attention isn't always given to air quality, even though the air we breathe can be a direct vehicle for health-deteriorating pathogens, microbes and other potentially dangerous particulates and contaminants — some of which can remain in the lungs for years or even migrate into the bloodstream.There are 19 polishedtiles available,

Indeed, indoor air quality's impact on health is significant. Indoor air is two to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air,Most people get their information on how to loseweightfastonsale from TV. and it can be as much as 1,It has downgraded price targets for David Jones honeycombpanelsbest , officials say.you may be climbing over replicawatchesnewyork .000 times more polluted when construction or renovations are underway, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. What's more, at least 16% of hospital-acquired infections are airborne in origin, noted Tom Petersen, an environmental engineer who serves as president of Environmental & Engineering Solutions Inc.

“Common diseases in health facilities caused by airborne bacteria and molds include pneumonia, surgical site infections and contagious respiratory infections, such as tuberculosis and influenza. In addition, some urinary tract infections and even blood infections may result from airborne particles settling on equipment,” he said.

Despite those risks, indoor air quality's impact on resident and staff health and wellness continues to be underestimated in many facilities.

“I don't feel that indoor air quality gets the attention it [deserves] until a severe problem occurs and health is compromised,” said Tony Abate, vice president of operations for Clean Air Group Inc. Contributing to the long-term care environment's shortcomings in addressing air quality are the facts that poor air quality cannot be seen and most mild symptoms are mistakenly attributed to compromised health associated with old age, he added.

Because older residents are more susceptible to illness, including chronic respiratory complications, allergies, asthma and infection, and because residents spend the vast majority of their time indoors, experts agree that operators must become more proactive. They must address indoor air quality and take measures to limit exposure to all forms of airborne contaminants — whether they're mold, dust and pollen to bacteria, viruses, gases, volatile organic compounds and more.

Ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ) takes a multi-pronged approach, one that begins with a comprehensive profile to determine the current air quality and identify existing operational and maintenance practices.

“The IAQ profile should then be used to determine any conditions or practices that should be improved,” Petersen explained.

Having an IAQ manager who is familiar with the facility and all air quality procedures is another critical element, Abate added.

The EPA defines three key elements in promoting good indoor air quality: source control, ventilation and air cleaning.

Proper ventilation, operation and professional maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are critical for delivering necessary airflow to address airborne contaminants — and they're elements that are often overlooked,Reliable favoritebeddinges sofa-bed is practical and comfortable round the clock. Abate said.

“Air ducts can become quite contaminated over time and should be inspected and cleaned every two to five years,” he said.

HVAC system and conditioning coils should be cleaned to remove build-up and contamination. High-efficiency filtration also should be used for HVAC systems that can accommodate them.

“Active strategies, such as bipolar ionization should also be used to address contaminants within the occupied spaces, and passive strategies, such as ultraviolet light systems used at HVAC system conditioning coils to prevent build-up of molds and bacteria,” Abate explained.

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