Evaluation of Airborne Infection Risk in a School Using Multizone Simulation: Pathogen Transmission Between Students in Different Classrooms Through Corridors

Abstract Background Airborne infections in school environments are influenced not only by conditions within individual classrooms but also by pathogen transmission through shared spaces such as corridors. Effective ventilation strategies are essential to mitigate infection risks in such multizone settings. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the risk of airborne infections between students in different classrooms connected by corridors and to assess the effectiveness of various ventilation strategies–including natural ventilation, air purifiers, and mechanical ventilation–using multizone simulations with CONTAM software and the Wells–Riley model. Results While natural ventilation can reduce airborne pathogen concentrations within individual classrooms, it may inadvertently facilitate pathogen spread through corridors, thereby increasing the risk of cross-classroom infection by up to 180%. The operation of air purifiers and mechanical ventilation demonstrated significant potential for reducing both within-classroom and cross-classroom infection risks, by 42.4–91.1% and 78.7–80.3%, respectively. Additionally, managing airflow in both classrooms and corridors further enhanced infection prevention. Conclusion Although natural ventilation can have unintended consequences on cross-classroom infection risk, the strategic deployment of air purifiers and mechanical ventilation offers substantial benefits for airborne infection control in school environments. By considering the management of both classroom and corridor air, this study provides effective insights into enhancing airborne infection prevention strategies in educational settings. Graphical abstract