TB Infection Control
Sputum collection Booth
I am trying to set up a TB study in a hospital in India. I was surprised by the lack of any facilities that allow for sputum collection (without induction) there and wanted to suggest a booth outside. We were also going to add the sample reagent for the Xpert in that newly installed booth.
I was hoping for your advice on the installation of such a both. I found a lot of information on this but mostly for indoor constructions (from CDC and Francis Curry).
From my reading I think the booth should have the following characteristics:
- be at least 20 feet away from human activity
- located downwind from human activity
- provide privacy with three walls but leave one wall open ideally on the side of the prevailing wind for observation and air entry
- install a roof for protection from weather, with a gap between the walls to ensure maximum cross-ventilation (how much of a gap?)
- leave 10min between patients entering the booth
- have HCW enter with a N95 respirator
- I was thinking of a grill on the floor to prevent water stagnation from cleaning
Does that sounds reasonable? There is very little wind within the facilities in the hospital and the temperture is above 90 and the humidity is high for the most part of the year. Do you think that could be a problem?
Once it is set up, we should probably do a smoke test, but is there are rule within what time frame the smoke needs to leave the booth if the let's say incense is lit close to the floor?
Thank you for your advice.
Claudia
Selvakumar Nagamiah
Dear all,
I agree with most of the suggestions.
But, 10 min gap for each collection may sound good in low volume settings. It can not be insisted in large volume settings where around 100 to 150 samples are collected in a day.
With regards.
Dr. N. Selvakumar
Scientist - 'G"
Tuberculosis Research Centre (ICMR)
Mayor VR Ramanathan Road
Chetput, Chennai 600 031
India.
Fax: +91 44 2836 2528
Ph (off): +91 44 2836 9620
11:48 PM, 26 Jan 2012 | Permalink
Grigory Volchenkov, MD
I would suggest to have all louvered walls of the booth to provide both privacy and improved wind driven air change inside. In this case time between sputum collections could be substantially reduced.
In naturally ventilated settings ACH estimates are not reliable, but for my opinion 10 minutes should be absolutetly enough, even may be too much if even slight wind exists.
Regards,
Dr. Grigory V. Volchenkov
Head Doctor
Vladimir Oblast TB Dispansery
Sudogodskoe shosse, 63
Vladimir 600023 RUSSIA
phone/fax work: +7(4922)323265
mobile +7 9206253227; +7 9190189226
PPlease don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. Thank you!
12:40 AM, 27 Jan 2012 | Permalink
Selvakumar Nagamiah
The sputum collection booth can have wall enclosures on all three sides without roof which will facilitates free air flow. Pateint will be inside the booth for a short time and no need to have the roof. Samll spills will have a greater chances of exposure to sunlight and thereby reducing the aerosols .
With regards.
Dr. N. Selvakumar
Scientist - 'G" (Re-appointed)
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (ICMR)
Mayor Sathyamurthy Road
Chetput, Chennai 600 031
India.
Fax: +91 44 2836 2528
Ph (off): +91 44 2836 9620
6:46 AM, 27 Jan 2012 | Permalink
S. Mehtar
In that case you will have to increase the airflows!
s
Prof Shaheen Mehtar
MBBS, FRC Path (UK), FCPath (Micro) (SA), MD (Lon)
Chair of Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN)
Head of Academic Unit for Infection Prevention and Control
Tygerberg Hospital &Fac of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch Uni
PO Box 19063,
Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 938 5051
Fax: + 27 21 938 5065
Mobile: +27 82 852 3697
http://www.sun.ac.za/uipc
Visit the Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) website on
http://www.ICANetwork.co.za
3:01 AM, 29 Jan 2012 | Permalink
Claudia Denkinger
Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. I will make sure to integrate them in our design.
Sincerely,
Claudia
10:21 AM, 31 Jan 2012 | Permalink
Dries Meyer
I regularly browse through TB related articles on the internet because
it is a valuable source of general information.
I am however concerned about articles in which so called "experts and
aero biological engineers" copy diagrams, formulae, sketches, schedules,
photos etc from other internet articles by specialists in the field and
then compile them into an article under their own name or a company name.
These "experts" did not do any of the research or studies required and
for all practical purposes have very little knowledge or know "ziltz" of
the research work.
I would like to get participants in GHDonline's thoughts on this matter.
Dries Meyer.
4:05 AM, 2 Feb 2012 | Permalink