Exposure to airborne influenza from patient’s cough and exhaled air causes potential flu virus transmission to the persons located nearby. Flu virus can be transmitted through air by patient’s cough creating aerosols containing flu virus. Hospital acquired influenza is a major airborne disease that occurs to health care workers (HCW).
The present study examines the air flow patterns and influenza-infected cough aerosol transport behavior in a ceiling-ventilated mock AIIR and its effectiveness in mitigating HCW’s exposure to airborne infection. The Computational Fluid Dynamic analysis of the air flow patterns and the flu virus dispersal behavior in a Mock AIIR is conducted using the room geometries and layout (room dimensions, bathroom dimensions and details, placement of vents and furniture), ventilation parameters (flow rates at the inlet and outlet vents, diffuser design, thermal sources, etc.), and pressurization corresponding to that of a traditional ceiling mounted ventilation arrangement observed in existing hospitals. The measured data showed that ventilation rates for the AIIR is about 12 ACH (Air changes per hour). However, the numerical results revealed incomplete air mixing, and that not all of the room air was changed 12 times per hour. Two life-sized breathing human models were used to simulate a source patient and a receiving HCW. A patient-cough cycle is introduced into the simulation, and the AI dispersal is tracked in time using a multi-phase flow simulation approach.
