Engineered Systems - January 2009 - (Page 85) Issues&Events HUMIDIFICATION Can humidification battle ‘superbugs’ in hospitals? Researchers at Bradford University (West Yorkshire, England) have started a two-year research program examining the effects of humidity on hospital superbugs such as E.Coli and have constructed one of the world’s largest biological test chambers to carry out their investigations. Humidification has long been recognized as necessary, and there are countless papers and articles written extolling its virtue, but there has been no significant scientific research carried out in the UK. Various papers studied humidification’s effects in a surgical environment, but not how it may be used to combat infection on hospital wards. out it. Ophthalmic surgery, for instance, where the eye needs to be kept moist throughout the procedure, accounts for 7% of all surgery in the UK. “Effects of Humidity on Posterior Lens Opacification During Fluid Air Exchange,” published in the United States, says that the use of humidified air promotes better visualization and enhances surgical performance. May other procedures require precisely controlled humidity, including invasive surgery when tissues start to deteriorate if there is not enough moisture in the atmosphere. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has recognized the importance of humidifi- Humidify with Less Electricity Facility Managers can reduce energy costs while meeting today’s more stringent indoor air quality requirements. Mee Industries’ humidification system uses high-pressure pumps to pressurize water to 1000 psi. MeeFog™ nozzles then atomize the water into billions of ultra-fine droplets. Systems do not require compressed air or steam. Energy consumed is a small fraction of that required by competing technologies. Researchers at Bradford and other leading northern universities are modeling the impact of humidity on bacteria, looking at the impact of changes in room humidity on different pathogens, and studying how humidity might be used to control the spread of infection via contaminated surfaces and air in hospital wards. Energy Cost Comparison (Annual) MeeFog™ Systems Centrifugal Ultrasonic Compressed Air Steam To Steam Gas To Steam Electric Steam $700 $3,430 $5,950 $14,350 $68,950 $86,188 $128,800 .4% 2.7% 4.6% 11.1% 53.5% 66.9% 100% SOMETIMES, LITERALLY STANDARD PROCEDURE Air quality in hospitals is a very complex issue. Contaminants can be airborne, attracted to dust due to static, or carried by visitors. They may also originate inside the hospital, and these threaten the quality of the environment. Ventilation and filtration provide a means of combating contaminants by diluting their concentration, and adequate humidity control is another part of the IAQ strategy. For many procedures, humidity is essential and the surgery cannot take place with- Assumptions: $.065 per kWh, 3500 hours of operation, 1000 lbs. per hour moisture output. HUMIDIFICATION DIVISION w w w. m e e f o g . c o m phone 1.800.575.6808 • fax 1.800.576.6927 Input 173 at www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo ESM01094MEE.indd 1 3:06:45 w w w. esmag a zin e. c o m12/22/08 85 PM http://www.meefog.com http://www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo http://www.esmagazine.com
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