Mitigating airborne virus transmission in hospital wards: A study on effects of ventilation system, air purifier and curtains

The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about airborne virus transmission, particularly in enclosed spaces like hospital wards. This study examines the effectiveness of ventilation system, air purifier and curtains in mitigating virus-laden-particle spread in a hospital ward. A four-bed hospital room was simulated, where patients exhale potentially infectious particles. The impact of different configurations of ventilation systems, air purifiers and curtains on particle dispersion was evaluated. The experiments involved the release of NaCl particles to mimic virus-laden aerosols, measured by optical particle counters. The study found that operating the ventilation system alone could reduce particle concentrations, especially when the particle source was near the exhaust vent. The addition of curtains further reduced concentrations by approximately 10%. The air purifier's effectiveness varied depending on the particle source location and the airflow direction. The most significant reduction, up to 52.6%, occurred when both the ventilation system and the air purifier were used simultaneously, with a combined effect of 41.4% reduction compared to relying on ventilation alone. The results suggest that a combined strategy using ventilation systems, air purifiers and curtains is an effective way to reduce airborne virus transmission. These findings provide practical insights for improving indoor air quality and mitigating infection risks in hospitals.