Air cleaners and respiratory infections in schools. A modeling study using epidemiological, environmental, and molecular data
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Autor:innen
Banholzer, Nicolas
Jent, Philipp
Bittel, Pascal
Zürcher, Kathrin
Furrer, Lavinia
Bertschinger, Simon
Ramette, Alban
Egger, Matthias
Hascher, Tina
Autor:in (Körperschaft)
Publikationsdatum
30.12.2023
Typ der Arbeit
Studiengang
Typ
01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift
Herausgeber:innen
Herausgeber:in (Körperschaft)
Betreuer:in
Übergeordnetes Werk
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Themenheft
DOI der Originalpublikation
Link
Reihe / Serie
Reihennummer
Jahrgang / Band
Ausgabe / Nummer
Seiten / Dauer
Patentnummer
Verlag / Herausgebende Institution
Oxford University Press
Verlagsort / Veranstaltungsort
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Version
Programmiersprache
Abtretungsempfänger:in
Praxispartner:in/Auftraggeber:in
Zusammenfassung
AbstractBackgroundUsing a multiple-measurement approach, we examined the real-world effectiveness of portable HEPA-air filtration devices (air cleaners) in a school setting.MethodsWe collected environmental (CO2, particle concentrations), epidemiological (absences related to respiratory infections), audio (coughing), and molecular data (bioaerosol and saliva samples) over seven weeks during winter 2022/2023 in two Swiss secondary school classes. Using a cross-over study design, we compared particle concentrations, coughing, and the risk of infection with vs without air cleaners.ResultsAll 38 students (age 13−15 years) participated. With air cleaners, mean particle con-centration decreased by 77% (95% credible interval 63%−86%). There were no differences in CO2levels. Absences related to respiratory infections were 22 without vs 13 with air cleaners. Bayesian modeling suggested a reduced risk of infection, with a posterior probability of 91% and a relative risk of 0.73 (95% credible interval 0.44−1.18). Coughing also tended to be less frequent (posterior probability 93%). Molecular analysis detected mainly non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses in saliva (50/448 positive), but not in bioaerosols (2/105 positive) or HEPA-filters (4/160). The detection rate was similar with vs without air cleaners. Spatiotemporal analysis of positive saliva samples identified several likely transmissions.ConclusionsAir cleaners improved air quality, showed a potential benefit in reducing respiratory infections, and were associated with less coughing. Airborne detection of non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses was rare, suggesting that these viruses may be more difficult to detect in the air. Future studies should examine the importance of close contact and long-range transmission, and the cost-effectiveness of using air cleaners.
Schlagwörter
Fachgebiet (DDC)
610 - Medizin und Gesundheit
Veranstaltung
Startdatum der Ausstellung
Enddatum der Ausstellung
Startdatum der Konferenz
Enddatum der Konferenz
Datum der letzten Prüfung
ISBN
ISSN
2328-8957
Sprache
Englisch
Während FHNW Zugehörigkeit erstellt
Ja
Zukunftsfelder FHNW
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Begutachtung
Peer-Review der ganzen Publikation
Open Access-Status
Closed
Lizenz
Zitation
BANHOLZER, Nicolas, Philipp JENT, Pascal BITTEL, Kathrin ZÜRCHER, Lavinia FURRER, Simon BERTSCHINGER, Ernest WEINGARTNER, Alban RAMETTE, Matthias EGGER, Tina HASCHER und Lukas FENNER, 2023. Air cleaners and respiratory infections in schools. A modeling study using epidemiological, environmental, and molecular data. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 30 Dezember 2023. DOI 10.1101/2023.12.29.23300635. Verfügbar unter: https://irf.fhnw.ch/handle/11654/46626