Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2015.41.3.216

Problems of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Outbreak from the Perspective of Environmental Health - Focusing on Control of Indoor Air Quality in Hospitals -  

Heo, Da-An (Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University)
Lee, Junghyun (Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University)
Huh, Eun-Hae (Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University)
Moon, Kyong Whan (Department of Health and Environmental Science, College of Health Science, Korea University)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.41, no.3, 2015 , pp. 216-221 More about this Journal
Abstract
Since Patient Zero of MERS was diagnosed in May 20, 2015, cases of MERS continued to grow. The current situation, which people have been confirmed to be infected, suggested that contaminated indoor air could be the potential cause of hospital-acquired infections. It is important to address the indoor air quality in hospitals because pathogens can spread through air. While the heating, ventilating and air conditioning(HVAC) system is useful managing indoor air quality in hospitals, it can transmit the pathogens if operated improperly. Therefore, it is necessary to remove contaminants in hospitals and operate the HVAC system according to the guidelines, in order to maintain clean indoor air.
Keywords
Hospital; HVAC; Indoor air quality; Middle east respiratory syndrome;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Middle East respiratory syndrome information. Available: http://www.mers.go.kr/mers/html/jsp/main.jsp [accessed 21 June 2015].
2 Leggett HC, Cornwallis CK, West SA. Mechanisms of pathogenesis, infective dose and virulence in human parasites. PLos Pathog. 2012; 8(2): e1002512.   DOI
3 Pastuszka, J., Kyaw Tha Paw, U., Lis, D., Wlazlo, A., Ulfig, K. Bacterial and fungal aerosol in indoor environment in upper silesia, Poland. Atmospheric Environment. 2000; 34: 3833-3842.   DOI
4 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Bioaerosols assessment and control. ACGIH; 1999.
5 Riley, R. L. The ecology of indoor atmospheres airborne infection in hospital. Journal of Chronic Diseases. 1972; 25: 421-423.   DOI
6 Hinds W. Aerosol technology: properties, behavior, and measurement of airborne particles, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley; 1999.
7 J. Gralton, E. Tovey, M.L. McLaws, W.D. Rawlinson. The role of particle size in aerosolized pathogen transmission: a review. Journal of Infection. 2011; 62: 1-13.   DOI   ScienceOn
8 Tang JW, Li Y, Eames I, Chan PK, Ridgway GL. Factors involved in the aerosol transmission of infection and control of ventilation in healthcare premises. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2006; 64(2): 100-114.   DOI
9 Utrup LJ, Frey AH. Fate of bioterrorism-relevant viruses and bacteria, including spores, aerosolized into an indoor air environment. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2004; 229(4): 345-350.   DOI
10 Butler D. South Korean MERS outbreak is not a global threat. Nature news; 2015. Available: http://www.nature.com/news/south-korean-mers-outbreakis-not-a-global-threat-1.17709 [accessed 21 June 2015].
11 World Health Organization(WHO). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). WHO; 2014. Available: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_04_11_mers/en/# [accessed 21 June 2015].
12 Tang JW, Li Y, Eames I, Chan PK, Ridgway GL. Factors involved in the aerosol transmission of infection and control of ventilation in healthcare premises. The Journal of Hospital Infection. 2006; 64(2): 100-114.   DOI
13 Eun-Gyu Lee. A study on distribution of airborne bioaerosols among different areas in a hospital[dissertation].[Seoul]: Hanyang University; 2002.
14 Sung Min, Kim, Yong Sik, Kim. A study on the HVAC system for improvement of indoor air quality in general hospital ward area. Architectural Research. 1996; 16(1): 201-205.
15 Ju hyeon, Shin. HVAC system of modern hospitals. The Korean Society of Clean Technology. 2002; 15(3): 47-71.
16 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Selection and use of disinfectants. Available: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/archive/g1410/build/g1410.pdf [accessed 21 June 2015].
17 Dong-Uk Park, Jeong-Kwan Yeom, Won Jae Lee, Kyeong-Min Lee, Assessment of the levelof airborne bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi in hospital lobbies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2013; 10(2): 541-555.   DOI
18 Hyeon Uk, Kim. Management and improvement of office building indoor air quality. Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2005; 208: 22-25.
19 Noll H., Youngner J.S. Virus-lipid interactions. The mechanism of adsorption of lipophilic viruses to water insoluble polar lipids. Virology, 1959; 8: 319-343.   DOI
20 Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings. CDC; 2005.
21 American Institute of Architects. Guidelines for design and construction of health care facilities. Washington, DC: American Institution of Architects; 2006.
22 American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers. HVAC design manual for hospitals and clinics. Atlanta (GA): American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers; 2003.
23 National Health Service. Design considerations: ventilation in healthcare premises. Health technical memorandum 2025. London: National Health Service Estates; 1994.
24 Industrial Air Solutions. AIA ventilation requirements hospitals and outpatient. Available: http://www.industrialairsolutions.com/contamination-control/hospital-air-purifiers-pdf/AIA-Guidelinespatient-care-construction.pdf [accessed 21 June 2015].