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
Research highlights expanding diagnostic capabilities but persistent gaps in antiviral therapy and vaccine coverage for pediatric enterovirus infections.
