Targeted reduction of airborne viral transmission risk in long-term residential aged care

Amanda Brass; Andrew P Shoubridge; Nicolas Larby; Levi Elms; Sarah K Sims; Erin Flynn; Caroline Miller; Maria Crotty; Lito E Papanicolas; Steve L Wesselingh; Lidia Morawska; Scott C Bell; Steven L Taylor; Geraint B Rogers

doi:10.1093/ageing/afac316

Targeted reduction of airborne viral transmission risk in long-term residential aged care

Age Ageing. 2022 Dec 5;51(12):afac316. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac316.

Authors

Amanda Brass¹, Andrew P Shoubridge^{1

2}, Nicolas Larby³, Levi Elms¹, Sarah K Sims¹, Erin Flynn^{1

4}, Caroline Miller^{1

5}, Maria Crotty^{1

6}, Lito E Papanicolas^{1

2

7}, Steve L Wesselingh¹, Lidia Morawska⁸, Scott C Bell^{9

10}, Steven L Taylor^{1

2}, Geraint B Rogers^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
² College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
³ Aged Care Property Services Management, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁴ National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
⁵ School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁶ Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁷ SA Pathology, SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁸ International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁹ The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
¹⁰ Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

PMID: 36580555
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afac316

Abstract

COVID-19 has demonstrated the devastating consequences of the rapid spread of an airborne virus in residential aged care. We report the use of CO2-based ventilation assessment to empirically identify potential 'super-spreader' zones within an aged care facility, and determine the efficacy of rapidly implemented, inexpensive, risk reduction measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; aged care; airborne transmission; influenza; older people; ventilation; virus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19*
Humans
Risk Reduction Behavior
SARS-CoV-2
Ventilation