Controlling airborne pathogen within Fangcang shelter hospitals: Aerodynamic analysis of bioaerosols released from various locations through experiment and simulation

Abstract

As a large-scale, temporary hospital designed to accommodate a substantial number of infected patients, Fangcang shelter hospitals carry a significant risk of infection between healthcare workers and patients. Controlling pathogen transmission through rational placement of infected patients is crucial, yet there is a lack of research, particularly on-site investigations. We used on-site experiments with numerical analysis to perform a full-scale, well-characterized, quantitative modeling of the aerodynamics by bioaerosols released from different sources in a Fangcang shelter hospital. The aim was to elucidate the impact of changes in the release source location on the transmission of bioaerosols. We observed the airborne transmission of bioaerosols within a Fangcang shelter hospital and noted the significant impact of release locations on their transmission and distribution characteristics. We highlighted the significant accumulation of remotely transported bioaerosols in the medical staff area (MSA), with a maximum concentration of 1650 copies/m3, and the largest contribution to contamination by patients with patient shelter room (PSR) 6#. Moreover, surface deposition levels on the medical workbench exceeded 1000 copies/m2. Our findings expose the crucial issues that Fangcang shelter hospitals should address in practical usage, thus providing designers and managers with innovative ideas for improvement.