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Patient Isolation Rooms

 

ISOLATION ROOMS       LABS      RENOVATIONS

OverviewEquipmentSupportFAQ - Patient Isolation

Patient’s Isolation Rooms

The OmniAire HEPA negative air machines and OmniAire PAC Portable Air Cleaners can be used to create positive and negative pressure isolation rooms, first response areas, increase number of air changes per hour (ACH) and to purify the air in gathering areas.. Our machines are equipped with HEPA filters, UV-C germicidal lights and an optional PEROx, a Hydro-Peroxide air purifier module for the highest degree of purification of air and surrounding surfaces. To monitor the patients room pressure relative to pressure in corridors to prevent any cross-contamination, the Omniguard 5 differential pressure recorder can be used.

Negative Pressure Environment

OmniAire 2000v for patient isolation rooms

OmniAire 2000v

The CDC recommends an Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) for the patients with infectious diseases such as smallpox (variola major), mucobacterium tuberculosis (TB), SARS, airborne viral diseases (VZV), measles (Rubeola) and mucorales. Current CDC guidelines recommend negative pressure rooms with an anteroom for AII rooms. The negative pressure room should have 0.020” W.C. lower pressure than the attached corridors. The OmniAire machine is used to purify air from the isolation room before it is exhausted in surrounding corridors or outdoors.

Positive Pressure Environment

To create a clean room environment for hyper-sensitive patients, the room can be positively pressurized with clean, sterile air to prevent bio-contaminants to migrate into the room. This protective environment is recommended for HIV patients, bone marrow transplant, ICU rooms, diabetes patients, cancer patients, stem cell transplants and other high risk patients. Recommended by CDC, the positive pressure room should have at least 0.010” W.C. higher pressure than the attached corridors. The OmniAire PAC combines several stages of air purification to assure the highest purity of supplied air to positively pressurize the isolation room.

Patient Room Cleanup – Turnaround Time

OmniAire 1200PAC with PEROx module

We are concerned with providing the highest levels of protection for hospital workers and patients. After hospital cleaning staff carry out infectious disease control cleanup procedures (the removal of all physical items) in the infected areas, the room can then be put back in service faster if the air is purified and sterilized using an OmniAire 1200PAC  with high output PEROx air purifier module. This results in minimal room shut down and disruption which is a major concern for all hospital administrations.

Air Filtration Systems
Airflow: 200-600 cfm
Weight: 36 lbs
Airflow: 150-550 cfm
Weight: 58 lbs
Airflow: 300 CFM to 1000 CFM based on speed settings and filter selection
Weight: 96 lbs/43.5 kg
Airflow: 200-1100 cfm
Weight: 110 lbs
Airflow: 200-1600 cfm
Weight: 110 lbs
negative air machine 2000V
Airflow: 1900 cfm*
Weight: 117 lbs
Airflow: 1000/2000 cfm
Weight: 147 lbs

See all our Air Filtration Systems …

Differential Pressure Monitors
Airflow: Operating pressure range from +/- 0.250 inches Water Column ( +/- 6.35 mm WC, +/- 62.5 Pascals)
Weight: 6 lbs.

See all our Differential Pressure Monitors …

Odor, VOC and Bio-Contaminant Purifiers
Airflow: Recommended: 100 - 2000 cfm (must be supplied from external fan)
Weight: 18 Lbs.
Airflow: Recommended: 100 - 2000 cfm (must be supplied from external fan)
Weight: 18 Lbs.
Airflow: 300-650 CFM
Weight: 40 Lbs.
Airflow: 200-1100 CFM (Supplied from 1200 PAC)
Weight: 24 Lbs.

See all our Odor, VOC and Bio-Contaminant Purifiers …

Support for the Patient Isolation Rooms

Achieving the best results with our equipment in specific industries often includes understanding the features of our machines and/or the accessories that will best assist you in your job.  Here we provide a few observations and elaborations that may help you in your research.

Medical Uses for Air Purification

Medical Uses for OmniAire Air Purification Equipment

Prevention of spread of infection diseases in Healthcare Facilities

To assure that diseases do not spread, the potential problem areas should be isolated and the air purified by portable HEPA air filtration equipment as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The studies show that the combination of HEPA filtration with UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is the most effective method to capture and destroy bio-contaminants, such as the fungi, bacteria and viruses that spread diseases such as pandemic flu, avian flu, tuberculosis, aspergillosis, ebola fever, marburg hemorrhagic fever, lassa fever, and other biological threats.

The OmniAire PAC machines, combining HEPA/UVGI lights is designed for patient’s isolation rooms, waiting areas, operation rooms and other highly sensitive areas. The UVGI irradiation deactivates and kills bio-contaminants which are than captured in a HEPA filter. HEPA filtered air can be exhausted or farther sanitized by an optional PEROx module with Hydro-peroxide purifier. The exhausted sanitized air carries additional Ionized-Hydro-Peroxide molecules to sanitize air and surfaces in surrounding area.

OmniAire HEPA air filtration machines are used to filter and purify the air during:

OmniAir 1200PAC (pictured with manifolds)

  •  Creation of isolation rooms
  • Supply purified air to meet required air changes (ACH)
  • Sanitizing of patient’s rooms
  • Purifying air in patient’s waiting areas
  • Prevent contamination in compounding pharmacies

Respiratory infections can be acquired from exposure to pathogenic microorganisms which can be indefinitely suspended in air and be carried over long distances. Healthcare facilities with patients with a compromised immune system are especially vulnerable, but from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other studies, other potentially affected types of healthcare facilities include:

Intensive care units

  • Emergency waiting Rooms
  • Dental Surgeries
  • Nursing Homes
  • Doctors Offices
  • Veterinary Clinics

Applications

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) isolation
  • TB isolation
  • Pediatric isolation
  • Infectious disease control
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Legionelia
  • Nosocomial infections

Omnitec’s customer support can help you to select the appropriate HEPA air filtration system for your application to help reduce exposure to airborne pathogens associated with hospital acquired infections.

FAQ – OmniAire PAC Used for Patients Isolation Rooms

What is special about OmniAire PAC HEPA Air Purifiers?
OmniAire PAC are design for use in medical environment and labs, where removal of aerosolized sub-micron particulate and pathogens is critical. HEPA air purifiers used in healthcare facilities provide continuous air purification and required air changes per hour (ACH). Our PAC machines are used to create isolation rooms with negative pressure (AII) or positive pressure (PE). They could be also connected to anteroom for operating rooms or portable isolation enclosures. OmniAire PAC air purifiers use certified HEPA filter 99.99% @0.3 micron efficiency and UV-C germicidal lights (UVGI) to comply and exceed 2003 CDC Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities.
Where should we locate PAC machine inside the room?
PAC machine should be positioned with intake side facing the source of contamination and to create a flow of contaminated air away from the patient. When used inside an isolation room, place the machine far away from the door to pull any contaminants away from the corridor and public spaces. Purified air can be exhausted inside the room.
Could we use OmniAire PAC machines to create patients isolation rooms?

Negative Pressure AII Rooms

To create negative pressure inside the room in reference to adjacent corridors, more air has to be exhausted then what leaks inside through suspended ceiling and under the doors. PAC machine with our flex hose and adapter can exhaust purified air to outside the building or to the corridors when permitted by state regulations.

Usual requirements for AII rooms:

  • Negative pressure of 0.01 to 0.03”WC in reference to corridors
  • Air flow rate of 12 ACH or more
  • Air flow volume differential of 125 cfm or more of supply versus exiting air

Positive pressure environment for high risk, immune compromised patients

Our PAC machine with flex hose adapter can pull in and purify air from corridor area to create positive pressure inside the room and to generate required air changes. Locate PAC machine closer to door to push air out into the corridors and public spaces to prevent contamination from outside areas to seep in.

Usual requirements for PE rooms:

  • Positive pressure of 0.01 to 0.03”WC in reference to corridors
  • 12 ACH or more air flow rate
  • Air flow volume differential of 125 cfm or more of supply versus exiting air
How to monitor the differential pressure?
The room pressure for AII or PE is 0.01 to 0.03”WC in reference to corridors. This is a very low pressure range and requires high accuracy instrument. We have available OmniGuard 4 pressure recorder or the Watchman pressure monitor.
How We Benefit From Using PAC machines for Patient Room Cleanup?
Turnaround Time – We are concerned with providing the highest levels of protection for hospital workers and patients. After hospital cleaning staff carry out infectious disease control cleanup procedures (the removal of all physical items) in the infected areas, the room can then be put back in service faster if the air is purified and sterilized using an OmniAire PAC with PEROx air purifier module. This results in minimal room shut down and disruption which is a major concern for all hospital administrations.
Which OmniAire PAC model would be the best for our facility?
OmniAire PAC air purifiers are available with air flow capacities 200 to 1100 and 300 to 1850 cfm. Both models are capable to provide a wide range of air flow set by variable speed controller to meet your 12 ACH requirements. These portable machines with casters or larger set of wheels are easy to move from room to room as needed.
How many PAC machines it would require to have 12 ACH flow rate?
CDC guidelines for isolation rooms requires 12 ACH air flow rate or more in isolation rooms (PE or AII) .After calculating cubic feet of the room (length x width x height) multiplied by 12 (ACH) calculates minimum required airflow of cubic feet per hour. This divided by 60 (minutes gives you required air flow of cubic feet per minute (cfm) Our Airflow Calculator will quickly assists you with this calculation end the cfm required..
Choosing PAC machine
If this airflow calculation is for example up to 800 cfm, choose equipment which is rated to deliver about 1600 cfm. This takes in consideration leakage of air into the room, machine running at less then full speed and gradual loading of filters with dust. Larger safety margin is better. For a requirement of 400 to 600 cfm, the OmniAire 1200PAC with 1100 cfm maximum airflow would be right size of the machine… When switching patients in a room, how long should we run the PAC HEPA system between the patients? When changing patients in a room, it is recommended by CDC to run our PAC machine with at least 99.97% HEPA for 30- 40 minutes at rate of 12 ACH per hour. Adding additional time or higher air flow adds safety. Adding PEROx Air Porifier Modole with Hydro-Peroxide generator would shorten your turnover time and increase safety for patients and the nurses.
Are all HEPA filters the same quality?
Only individually tested and certified HEPA filters should be used in critical medical applications. All HEPA filters used in OmniAire PAC machines are individually tested and certified for 99.99% efficiency at 0.3 micron, exceeding CDC recommendations.
How often should we change primary and HEPA filter?
It depends on the environment, type of dust and other contaminants. In hospital environment, the primary pleated filter is usually replaced every two months when machine is used or when put in storage for extended time. HEPA filters are usually changed every 12 to 24 months, depending on the environment. Pressure gauge on the PAC machine provides good indication of filters loading . Consult Operators Manual for recommended filters changes based on pressure readings.
How UV-C germicidal lights help to control virus and bacteria?
The CDC recommends UV-C germicidal lights for destroying viruses such as Tuberculosis. UV-C wavelength destroy bio-contaminants by penetrating the cell’s membrane destroying the cell’s DNA HEPA filter which is downstream from the UV light, captures all live and dead virus cells and the UV-C germicidal lights continuously irradiate the HEPA surface provide additional safety against biological contaminants.
How long the UVGI lights last?
UVGI lights life span is measured in hours they operate. All UV lights slowly degrade in their power output. Our UVGI lights should be replaced after 15,000 hours, which is close to 2 years of nonstop operation and the lights have only 75% of their initial intensity.
How does the PEROx module work?
PEROx purification process utilizes Ionized Oxidation,  made from oxygen and humidity. Hydro-peroxides rapidly destroy bacteria, virus, VOCs and odors passing thru our unit and continue to seek contaminants in surrounding air and on all the surfaces. The lifespan of these oxides is about 15 minutes after which the unused oxides convert back to H2O and O2. and is safe for a human exposure. This powerful and safe purification process can be added to our portable HEPA air scrubbers when needed. The PEROx module is effective on MRSA, Bird Flu and similar dangerous virus and bacteria.