title: Mobile ultra-clean unidirectional airflow screen reduces air contamination in a simulated setting for intra-vitreal injection.
abstract: The aim of this study is to determine whether the use of a mobile ultra-clean laminar airflow screen reduces the air-borne particle counts in the setting of a simulated procedure of an intra-vitreal injection. A mobile ultra-clean unidirectional airflow (UDF) screen was tested in a simulated procedure for intra-vitreal injections in a treatment room without mechanical ventilation. One UDF was passed over the instrument tray and the surgical area. The concentration of particles was measured in the background, over the instrument table, and next to the ocular area. The degree of protection was calculated at the instrument table and at the surgical site. Use of the UDF mobile screen reduced the mean particle concentration (particles > 0.3 microns) on the instrument table by a factor of at least 100.000 (p < 0.05), and over the patient's eye by at least a factor of 436 (p < 0.05), which in clinical practice translates into significantly reduced air contamination. Mobile UDF screen reduces the mean particle concentration substantially. The mobile UDF screen may therefore allow for a safer procedural environment for ambulatory care procedures such as intra-vitreal injections in treatment rooms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.lapid@amc.nl.|Retina Total Eye Care, Driebergen, The Netherlands. r.lapid@amc.nl.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lapid-Gortzak
authors.affiliation: TNO, Dutch Center for Health Assets, Soesterberg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Traversari
authors.affiliation: Retina Total Eye Care, Driebergen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sarit Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lesnik Oberstein
authors.affiliation: Dept of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lapid
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Reinier O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Schlingemann
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections / Q000379:methods*; D009873:Operating Rooms; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Contamination; Endophthalmitis prevention; HEPA filters; Intra-vitreal injections; Unidirectional ultra-clean laminar airflow