Implementing a Negative-Pressure Isolation Ward for a Surge in Airborne-Infectious Patients

Background: During a large-scale airborne infectious disease outbreak, the number of patients needing hospital-based healthcare services may exceed available negative-pressure isolation room capacity. Methods: To test one method of increasing hospital surge capacity, a temporary negative pressure isolation ward was established at a fully functioning hospital. Negative pressure was achieved in a 30-bed hospital ward by adjusting the ventilation system. Differential pressure was continuously measured at 22 locations, and ventilation airflow was characterized throughout the ward. Results: The pressure on the test ward relative to the main hospital hallway was -29 Pa on average, approximately 10 times higher than the CDC guidance for airborne infection control. No occurrences of pressure reversal occurred at the entrances to the ward, even when staff entered the ward. Pressures within the ward changed, with some rooms becoming neutrally or slightly positively pressurized. Conclusions: This study showed that establishing a temporary negative-pressure isolation ward is an effective method to increase surge capacity in a hospital

Estimation of Needed Isolation Capacity for an Airborne Influenza Pandemic

We estimated the number of isolation beds needed to care for a surge in patients during an airborne-transmissible influenza pandemic. Based on US health system data, the amount of available airborne isolation beds needed for ill patients will be exceeded early in the course of a moderate or severe influenza pandemic, requiring medical facilities to find ways to further expand isolation bed capacity. Rather than building large numbers of permanent airborne infection isolation rooms to increase surge capacity, an investment that would come at great financial cost, it may be more prudent to prepare for wide-scale creation of just-in-time temporary negative-pressure wards. The authors estimated the number of isolation beds needed to care for a surge in patients during an airborne-transmissible influenza pandemic. Based on US health system data, the number of available airborne isolation beds needed for ill patients will be exceeded early in the course of a moderate or severe influenza pandemic, requiring medical facilities to find ways to further expand isolation bed capacity. It may be prudent to prepare for wide-scale creation of just-in-time temporary negative-pressure wards