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The Influence of Ventilation Measures on the Airborne Risk of Infection in Schools: A Scoping Review

Author

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  • Sandra N. Jendrossek

    (Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany)

  • Lukas A. Jurk

    (Institute of Industrial Building and Construction Design, Technical University Carolo Wilhelmina, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Kirsten Remmers

    (Institute of Industrial Building and Construction Design, Technical University Carolo Wilhelmina, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Yunus E. Cetin

    (Hermann-Rietschel-Institut, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Wolfgang Sunder

    (Institute of Industrial Building and Construction Design, Technical University Carolo Wilhelmina, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Martin Kriegel

    (Hermann-Rietschel-Institut, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Petra Gastmeier

    (Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Objectives: To review the risk of airborne infections in schools and evaluate the effect of intervention measures reported in field studies. Background: Schools are part of a country’s critical infrastructure. Good infection prevention measures are essential for reducing the risk of infection in schools as much as possible, since these are places where many individuals spend a great deal of time together every weekday in a small area where airborne pathogens can spread quickly. Appropriate ventilation can reduce the indoor concentration of airborne pathogens and reduce the risk of infection. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in the databases Embase, MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect using keywords such as school, classroom, ventilation, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration, SARS-CoV-2, and airborne transmission. The primary endpoint of the studies selected was the risk of airborne infection or CO 2 concentration as a surrogate parameter. Studies were grouped according to the study type. Results: We identified 30 studies that met the inclusion criteria, six of them intervention studies. When specific ventilation strategies were lacking in schools being investigated, CO 2 concentrations were often above the recommended maximum values. Improving ventilation lowered the CO 2 concentration, resulting in a lower risk of airborne infections. Conclusions: The ventilation in many schools is not adequate to guarantee good indoor air quality. Ventilation is an important measure for reducing the risk of airborne infections in schools. The most important effect is to reduce the time of residence of pathogens in the classrooms.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra N. Jendrossek & Lukas A. Jurk & Kirsten Remmers & Yunus E. Cetin & Wolfgang Sunder & Martin Kriegel & Petra Gastmeier, 2023. "The Influence of Ventilation Measures on the Airborne Risk of Infection in Schools: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3746-:d:1074533
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Finn F. Duill & Florian Schulz & Aman Jain & Leve Krieger & Berend van Wachem & Frank Beyrau, 2021. "The Impact of Large Mobile Air Purifiers on Aerosol Concentration in Classrooms and the Reduction of Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-31, November.
    2. Martin Kriegel & Anne Hartmann & Udo Buchholz & Janna Seifried & Sigrid Baumgarte & Petra Gastmeier, 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Transmission Indoors: A Closer Look at Viral Load, Infectivity, the Effectiveness of Preventive Measures and a Simple Approach for Practical Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-31, December.
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