Hospital Isolation Rooms (COVID-19)

Negative pressure

Negative pressure quarantine rooms prevent air from the anteroom, ensuite bathroom or patient space to escape into the corridor. Negative pressure is achieved by exhausting (removing) a greater quantity of air than that of the supplied air. A dedicated exhaust system is necessary for the negative pressure isolation room.

A pressure gauge and alarm system are necessary to advise when pressurization has not been achieved. Mecart’s wall and ceiling junctions are well-sealed therefore there is no leakage possible into or out of the room.

In the case of pathogens (such as measles, chickenpox, legionella, tuberculosis), quarantined patients require airborne droplet nuclei isolation. Negative pressure reduces the risk of infection via airborne transmission to other persons. These patient rooms are also called “airborne infection isolation” rooms or “infectious isolation facilities.”

Mecart has a great deal of experience in designing and building hazardous negative pressurized environments. These environments are frequently used in hazardous drug compounding facilities.   

Anteroom

(also referred to as “airlock room” or “decontamination room”)

Depending on the pathogens, isolation rooms may or may not require an anteroom. It is, however, important to be determined early on in the isolation ward design process. Sometimes both doors must not be open at the same time and require an interlocking system. Anteroom might or might not require to be sized to fit the bed within the room, without opening the interlocking doors.

The airlock room in hospital serves as a controlled area for the transfer of supplies, equipment and persons. It is also a barrier against the potential loss of pressurization. It is also where people can gown properly prior to entering or exiting the isolated contaminated area.

Airflow and HEPA filters

Just like cleanrooms, isolation rooms require a higher rate of air exchange per hour. This typically mean a minimum of 12 air changes per hour. An increased airflow is necessary to prevent transmission of infectious particles.

For highly infectious patients with pathogens such as hemorrhagic fever and pneumonic plague,100% fresh air intake is necessary. No air recirculating is possible.

Positive-pressurized protective environment

HEPA filtered air is generally used for positive pressurized rooms to isolate immunocompromised patients. For example in oncology and some transplant patients, it reduce the risk of airborne transmission of infection to the patient. These types of isolation rooms are known as protective isolation units or protective environment (PE).