Evaluation of WellAir’s Defend 400 in urgent care outpatient facility

Facility
Cape Regional Urgent Care, New Jersey
Download
Full Report

Objective

The objective was to determine whether the Defend 400 air cleaner could reduce airborne bacterial counts as compared to the control (no Defend device) in an urgent care outpatient facility running under normal conditions (occupied by doctors, nurses, staff and patients).

Read the one page summary here.

Methology

Enumeration and identification of airborne bacterial species from air samples. The samples were collected using an impaction air sampler, MAS-100 Eco Microbiological Air Sampler (MBV AG, Switzerland). Bacterial counts and bacterial species identification was performed by EMSL Analytical Inc (NJ, USA).

Air samples were taken during two phases: control and test.

  • The control phase, without the Defend 400 air cleaner, consisted of air samples taken at each environment for five consecutive days. The control phase established a baseline for the air samples colony counts.
  • The test phase, with the use of a Defend 400 air cleaner in each environment, was carried out in a similar fashion on same five consecutive days of the week. During test phase the Defend 400 was set to speed 3, 108 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) [184 m3/hour]. Note that the device was always ON during the test phase.

Both, control, and test phase conditions reported comparable overall number of visitors (303 v 306) to the clinic, with same average and median number of visitors per hour (5).

Summary of Results

Compared to the control, the Defend 400: 

  • Significantly (P<0.05) reduced airborne bacteria in the combined four rooms by 52%.
  • In each room, the reduction ranged from 11-72%.
  • Overall, there was a 60% reduction in opportunistic pathogens (2980 to 1180 CFU).
  • The most numerous species reduced consisted of Micrococcus luteus and Micrococcus lylae, which have been associated with a variety of illnesses including meningitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, chronic cutaneous infections and catheter infections.
  • Overall, there was a 43% reduction in pathogenic bacteria (70 to 40 CFU).

Conclusion and Discussion

During the 5 consecutive days, the Defend 400 significantly reduced total bacterial count by 52%, which included a 60% reduction in opportunistic pathogens and a 43% reduction in pathogenic bacteria.

Because of the reduction in bacteria, the Defend 400 complements existing infection prevention practices such as built-in heating/air conditioning systems, social distancing, hand and surface disinfection, and the use of masks.

Reduction in airborne pathogens may, in turn, decrease transmission of airborne transmitted infectious diseases at healthcare institutions, although further studies are required to demonstrate this.

Contact

USA Headquarters
3540 Toringdon Way, Suite 200 Charlotte, NC  28277
1 866 508 1118
info@wellairsolutions.com

Ireland Headquarters
DCU Innovation Campus
Old Finglas Road
Glasnevin, Dublin D11 KXN4
+353 1 907 2750
info@wellairsolutions.com

Contact WellAir

Social

Partners