Effect of partitioning furniture size on airborne infection risk in multi-bed ward

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the size of the partitioning furniture separating patients in a multi-bed ward and the airborne infection risk to those patients. Computational fluid dynamics analysis was used to analyze the airborne infection risk. A four-bed ward, in which one patient was infected with an airborne disease, was simulated, with tracer gas being used to simulate the spread of the airborne pathogens. Each patient’s airborne infection risk was simulated with two types of ventilation layout and six variations of partitioning furniture. When no partitioning furniture was used, the airborne infection risk to the patient in the bed next to the infected patient was the highest. With partitioning furniture installed between the beds, however, the airborne infection risk to that patient was significantly reduced. However, the airborne infection risk to the patient in front of the infected patient increased as a result of installing the partitioning furniture. In addition, depending on the size of the partitioning furniture, its installation negatively affected the airflow characteristics and exhaust efficiency. This tendency was particularly noticeable with partitioning furniture that was 2200 mm in length.