Hygiena 2010, 55(4):124-129

Transport Isolator with a Closed System of Ventilation for the Transportation of Patients with Highly Virulent Infection

Radek Bárta¹, Peter Bednarčík²

¹ Rokycanská nemocnice, a. s., Anesteziologicko-resuscitační odd., Rokycany

² Univerzita obrany, Fakulta vojenského zdravotnictví, Hradec Králové

The transport isolator is used for the isolation and transportation of a patient with highly virulent infection. It must ensure transport team safety and complete isolation of the infected patient from the surrounding environment. A successful outcome of the transportation depends on the availability of a transport isolator that enables the maintenance of vital functions and safe in-transport care. Transport isolators with an open system of ventilation using HEPA filters have been developed, having an air flow of about 120 litres per minute. Nevertheless, a HEPA filter cannot fully cope with a large air exchange and poses a risk of the infectious agent escaping outside the isolator. Therefore, a completely closed system of ventilation for a transport isolator has been designed and tested: it provides a range of benefits to the patient and increases transport team safety. The system enables closed air ventilation with oxygen supply and carbon dioxide absorption in soda lime and provides micro-climate control options. It reliably meets physiological and safety requirements. When tested, the system proved effective in maintaining vital functions in a matter of hours.

Keywords: transport isolator, patients with highly virulent infection, closed system of ventilation

Received: July 2010; Accepted: August 19, 2010; Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation