To assess whether portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters reduce respiratory and other infections among residents in long-term care facilities and decrease staff absenteeism.
Approach:
Study Design: A cluster randomized clinical trial with a 2-arm, parallel-group design, allocating care homes in a 1:1 ratio to receive HEPA filters or continue usual infection prevention measures.
Participants: Care homes in England with at least 20 older residents in single bedrooms were recruited. Residents and staff contributed to the trial design.
Randomization: Randomization was conducted by an independent statistician, stratified by geographical area and nursing care provision.
Ethics: The trial received ethical approval from the London–Harrow National Health Service Research Ethics Committee, and informed consent was obtained from participants.
Key Findings:
HEPA filters capture particles measuring 20 nm or less, potentially preventing long-range transmission of respiratory viruses.
Current infection prevention strategies primarily address direct and short-range transmission, leaving long-range transmission largely unmitigated.
Interpretation:
The study aims to fill a gap in evidence regarding the health benefits of HEPA filters in care homes, particularly for respiratory infections.
Limitations:
The trial is limited to winter months, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Care homes rated as inadequate or requiring improvement were excluded from participation.
Conclusion:
The study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of HEPA filters in reducing infections in long-term care facilities, addressing a significant public health concern.
by Alastair D. Hay, Rachel C. M. Brierley, Nick Turner, Joanna C. Thorn, Sophie Rees, Claire E. Brown, Laurel Campbell-Smith, Eleanor A. Gidman, Emily J. Henderson, Graziella Mazza, Gemma Morgan, Derren Ready, Craig Riddington, Jane Sprackman, Jodi Taylor, Tomas Welsh, Ruth Kipping
