Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 3. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-55603-9. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
To investigate the air disinfection efficacy of a novel high-oxygen membrane air sterilizer in hospital ward environments. Natural bacteria were used as indicator microorganisms, and air disinfection experiments were conducted under both unoccupied and occupied ward conditions to compare the actual disinfection performance between a high-oxygen membrane air sterilizer and a plasma air sterilizer. The relationship between disinfection efficacy and factors such as ward volume, temperature, humidity, initial bacterial load, and personnel movement was analyzed. Under unoccupied conditions, the natural bacterial extinction rate of the high-oxygen membrane air disinfecting machine was 88.4%, significantly higher than the 82.5% of the plasma air disinfecting machine (P = 0.019). However, under occupied conditions, there was no statistically significant difference in extinction rates between the two devices (80.0% vs. 78.7%, P = 0.165). Additionally, the disinfection efficacy of the high-oxygen membrane air disinfecting machine was not statistically affected by ward volume, temperature, humidity, initial bacterial concentration, or personnel activity (all P > 0.05) within the present experimental settings. Although high-oxygen membrane air disinfection technology demonstrates statistically superior disinfection performance in unoccupied environments, the observed efficacy does not currently support its use as a standalone intervention for reducing the airborne infection transmission. Further research in diverse clinical environments is needed to fully assess its potential.
PMID:42236873 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-55603-9
