Fans in recovery room

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

A facility has recently purchased a large wall mounted oscillating fan and
installed it in the area where the porters remake beds / trolleys and this
area is open to the recovery room.

I am concerned about disruption of the air flows and the potential risks
associated with blowing particulates [from linen used to make up the
trolleys] around the facility.

However I have been challenged to provide evidence that fans pose a risk of
infection and / or evidence that fans should not be used in this
environment.

A quick google search and review of ACORN Standards reveals little – so I am
hoping someone else may have come across this issue and can provide some
assistance.

All feedback gratefully received.

Kind Regards

Terry McAuley

Sterilisation & Infection Prevention and Control Consultant

STEAM Consulting Pty Ltd ACN 604 439 698

E: terry@steamconsulting.com.au

W: http://www.steamconsulting.com.au

A: PO BOX 779

Endeavour Hills

VIC Australia 3802

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[Michelle Bibby]

HI Terry

It is unfortunate that common sense does not prevail and also unfortunate
that a reference is required to support what would appear to be such a
simple issue to resolve.

I would support 100% that a fan in this area is not acceptable and will see
if I can find something as I am sure there is somewhere

Thanks
Michelle

Michelle Bibby
Infection Prevention Australia
+61 429 071 165
Michelle@infectionprevention.com.au
http://www.infectionprevention.com.au

Terry McCauly

Hi everyone,
A facility has recently purchased a large wall mounted oscillating fan and
installed it in the area where the porters remake beds / trolleys and this
area is open to the recovery room.
I am concerned about disruption of the air flows and the potential risks
associated with blowing particulates [from linen used to make up the
trolleys] around the facility.
However I have been challenged to provide evidence that fans pose a risk of
infection and / or evidence that fans should not be used in this
environment.
A quick google search and review of ACORN Standards reveals little so I am
hoping someone else may have come across this issue and can provide some
assistance.
All feedback gratefully received.
Kind Regards
Terry McAuley
Sterilisation & Infection Prevention and Control Consultant
STEAM Consulting Pty Ltd ACN 604 439 698
E: terry@steamconsulting.com.au
W: http://www.steamconsulting.com.au
A: PO BOX 779
Endeavour Hills
VIC Australia 3802

CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION: The information contained in this message may
contain confidential information intended only for the use of the individual
or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this communication in error, please notify us by telephone or email
immediately and return the original message to us or destroy all printed and
electronic copies. Nothing in this transmission constitutes an agreement of
any kind unless otherwise expressly indicated.
MESSAGES POSTED TO THIS LIST ARE SOLELY THE OPINION OF THE AUTHOR, AND DO
NOT REPRESENT THE OPINION OF ACIPC.
The use of trade/product/commercial brand names through the list is
discouraged by ACIPC. If you wish to discuss specific reference to products
or services by brand or commercial names, please do this outside the list.

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[Glenys Harrington]

Hi Terry,

I would ask the hospital to provide an engineer assessment to confirm the
room air was not entrained into the clean airstream of the operating
theatre.

I’d also focus on the dispersion of lint and fibre on air currents in the OR
complex – plenty of evidence for low lint OR environments.

In addition I would point out to the organisation that fans may also be a
red flag to surveyors that a temperature control or ventilation problem
exists, which can impact equipment and overall patient care.

Find below and attached some information that may be of interest/use.

Some information form the Joint Commission (USA) web page – Standards FAQ
Details

Fans – patient Care areas

Are fans allowed in patient care areas, laboratories, or other support areas
in an organisation?

There are no specific Joint Commission standards that prohibit the use of
fans. While fans may be used for additional comfort of the patient, such as
those with respiratory distress or post cardiac surgery, they may indicate
to surveyors that a temperature control or ventilation problem exists, as
described by EC.02.06.01. Space temperature issues can impact equipment,
patient testing results, and overall patient care. This concern usually
arises after adding equipment or use of the space without increasing the
capability of space cooling/ventilation. The organization should perform a
risk assessment, per EC.02.01.01 that includes the most appropriate persons
available to the organization. Examples of assessment concerns could
include: risks pertinent to the needs of the patient; ventilation and/or
temperature concerns for equipment; airborne particles/contamination that
may impact patient care, procedure/treatment processes or equipment
operation; maintaining the cleanliness of fan blades/housing; possible
tripping hazard(s) created by cords; etc. Infection control should be a key
element in the assessment process. The survey process will evaluate the risk
assessment for effectiveness and validate proper implementation of the
resulting policy/practice. Adjustments to the implemented process are to be
made as needed. [EC.02.06.01]

https://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/jcfaqdetails.aspx?Stan
dardsFaqId76
&ProgramId

INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL COMMUNICATION FORM PORTABLE FANS – CLEANING
AND USE RESTRICTIONS – Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Acute Care
Infection Prevention & Control Manual – DATE ISSUED: October 22, 2015

“Portable fans are currently used in some sites across the region to assist
in patient comfort or to regulate a patient’s body temperature. Other sites
have chosen to disallow the use of fans in patient care areas. Staff also
use fans in their work areas, which may be near patients. This communication
form does not supersede any existing site specific policy which bans the use
of fans, nor does it include High-Efficiency Portable Air (HEPA)-filtered
fans. Fans have the potential to disperse dust and airborne-transmitted
microorganisms1 , create airborne Clostridium difficile spores3 , and alter
airflow patterns. While use of portable fans has not been proven to transmit
infection3 , these issues, as well as lack of appropriate cleaning
procedures, are infection control concerns”.

DO FANS SPREAD INFECTION IN CLINICAL AREAS? Emerg Med J 2008;25:10 689

http://emj.bmj.com/content/25/10/689.1.extract

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843075

regards

Glenys

Glenys Harrington

Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)

P.O. Box 6385

Melbourne

Australia, 3004

M: +61 404816434

E: infexion@ozemail.com.au

Of Terry McAuley

Hi everyone,

A facility has recently purchased a large wall mounted oscillating fan and
installed it in the area where the porters remake beds / trolleys and this
area is open to the recovery room.

I am concerned about disruption of the air flows and the potential risks
associated with blowing particulates [from linen used to make up the
trolleys] around the facility.

However I have been challenged to provide evidence that fans pose a risk of
infection and / or evidence that fans should not be used in this
environment.

A quick google search and review of ACORN Standards reveals little – so I am
hoping someone else may have come across this issue and can provide some
assistance.

All feedback gratefully received.

Kind Regards

Terry McAuley

Sterilisation & Infection Prevention and Control Consultant

STEAM Consulting Pty Ltd ACN 604 439 698

E: terry@steamconsulting.com.au

W: http://www.steamconsulting.com.au

A: PO BOX 779

Endeavour Hills

VIC Australia 3802

CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION: The information contained in this message may
contain confidential information intended only for the use of the individual
or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this communication in error, please notify us by telephone or email
immediately and return the original message to us or destroy all printed and
electronic copies. Nothing in this transmission constitutes an agreement of
any kind unless otherwise expressly indicated.

MESSAGES POSTED TO THIS LIST ARE SOLELY THE OPINION OF THE AUTHOR, AND DO
NOT REPRESENT THE OPINION OF ACIPC.

The use of trade/product/commercial brand names through the list is
discouraged by ACIPC. If you wish to discuss specific reference to products
or services by brand or commercial names, please do this outside the list.

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the quotes) to listserv@aicalist.org.au

MESSAGES POSTED TO THIS LIST ARE SOLELY THE OPINION OF THE AUTHOR, AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE OPINION OF ACIPC.

The use of trade/product/commercial brand names through the list is discouraged by ACIPC. If you wish to discuss specific reference to products or services by brand or commercial names, please do this outside the list.

Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.

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