The spatial and temporal effect of electrochromic windows on indoor and human microbiome in an inpatient hospital.

Autor:	Lam MI; Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada., Gleason K; Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA., Repp AB; Department of Medicine, The Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA., Yeo S; Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada., Vojnits K; Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada., MacNaughton P; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA., Pakpour S; Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE [Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol] 2024 Oct 25; Vol. 4 (1), pp. e188. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 25 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.1017/ash.2024.344
Abstrakt:	Objective: Improving the hospital environment and developing novel disinfection strategies are critical for infection control in healthcare settings. In this study, we explored the effects of electrochromic (EC) windows on indoor and patient microbiome in an inpatient hospital. Patient and Setting: Hematology-Oncology patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in ten occupied patient rooms. Five of the patient rooms had active EC windows that tint dynamically to control for heat and glare, and the other five rooms had deactivated EC windows that simulated traditional windows and blinds. Samples were collected one day before patient admission as baseline and on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day of the patient stay. Total bacterial abundance and bacterial community structure were determined through quantitative PCR and 16s rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing, respectively. Results: Patient rooms with active EC windows had significantly lower light intensity and temperature than traditional patient rooms with blinds. The absolute bacterial abundance and diversities on windows were significantly lower in rooms with EC windows and the bacterial composition changed after one day EC window activation. Compared to baseline, relative abundance of the Staphylococcus genus was significantly lower on EC window surface during the five-day experiment. In contrast, the air microbiome was more diverse in rooms with EC windows. Conclusion: Active electrochromic (EC) windows in patient rooms result in lower light intensity and temperature, reduced bacterial abundance and diversities on window surfaces, and a more diverse air microbiome, informing future healthcare design. Competing Interests: P.M is an employee (VP of Product) of View Inc. All other authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. (© The Author(s) 2024.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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