Investigating the Ventilation System of an Intensive Care Unit in the COVID-19 Crisis: A Study in a Hospital of Tehran, Iran

Ventilation system besides other prevention strategies such as surface disinfecting and personal protective equipment (PPE) decrease the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This study aimed to examine the ventilation system of an intensive care unit (ICU) in a hospital in Tehran, Iran to evaluate the potency of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) for COVID-19 spread.

Contamination of air turnover caves was evaluated in supplier diffuser and extractor grills of negative pressure HVAC by ten samples. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) in the samples was evaluated by the real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Moreover, air conditioning and sick building syndrome (SBS) was assessed according to MM040EA questioning from health care workers.

In the health care workers, respiratory effects were more prevalent compared to other signs. Despite suitable air conditioning, this study highlighted carrier potency of ICU workers for SARS-COV-2.

According to our results, although the HVAC of ICU ward had an appropriate air movement, it was not safe enough for health care workers.