In-room HEPA Cleaners: Current and Recommended Practices

Issue:
In-room HEPA cleaners are a seemingly simple technology that offer healthcare organizations a quick and inexpensive way to augment their airborne infection isolation  (AII) room capacity.  However, insufficient planning, commissioning, and delegation of accountabilities compromise its safe and effective use, potentially resulting in AII rooms not meeting standards.  In November 2005, the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) recommended that the Healthcare Human Factors Group evaluate current practice in Ontario related to in-room HEPA cleaners and provide recommendations regarding best practice.

Method:
Sixteen hospitals geographically dispersed around the province participated in phone interviews. Of these sixteen hospitals, six site visits were made to observe and further understand how in-room HEPA cleaners were being used and supported. In addition, three vendors and two service providers of in-room HEPA cleaners were interviewed to garner their perspective on the overall application, use and support of this technology.

National and international standards and guidelines were researched to establish best practice.  Also, an Infection Control Expert Panel (ICEP) was convened for their advice on the arising issues from the field research.

Results:
The evaluation determined that there are a wide variety of options associated with this technology and that there was a need for guidance regarding its safe and effective use.  As such, HHFG compiled a report that presents a sequential series of recommendations to support facilities to appropriately plan, acquire, configure, commission, operate and support in-room HEPA cleaners.  The presented recommendations can be used by those health care facilities looking to purchase in-room HEPA cleaners, and also by those who currently use this technology, to verify current practices.

Publications:
In-room HEPA cleaners: Guidance document (630 KB)
Date of issue: October, 2007

In-room HEPA cleaners: Current and Recommended Practices (4.23 MB)
Date of issue: October, 2007