Evaluation of an Innovative Pediatric Isolation Bed Using Fluid Dynamics Simulation and Physical Pollutants

Abstract

Background: Airborne transmission is an important mechanism of spread for both viruses and bacteria in hospitals, with nosocomial infections putting a great burden on public health. Patients in intensive care units are highly susceptible and these units by necessity already have incur high operating costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an economical medical device to prevent nosocomial infections. In order to achieve this goal, an innovative pediatric isolation bed was developed. Methods: We investigated the position of the child and air intake wind speed to test the local isolation effect of the bed using computational fluid dynamics simulation technology. Following this, we conducted purification experiments using cigarette smoke, and sustained release Staphylococcus albus and human adenovirus type 5 to demonstrate the isolation efficacy.Results: The results showed that the patient’s head should be placed as close to the air inlet hood as possible, and the value of air intake wind speed of 0.86 m/s was effective. The isolation efficacy of this innovative pediatric isolation bed is demonstrated by CFD technology and experiments using cigarette smoke and different kinds of microorganisms.Conclusions: The pediatric isolation bed is mobile and economic, particularly useful for where infectious isolation wards are unavailable, such as in intensive care units and primary clinical settings, to control hospital acquired infection. This study provides a new method for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections.