Development and usability testing of an air disinfection robot to reduce air clearance times following aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs)

The potential for pathogenic respiratory particles, including SARS-CoV-2, to become suspended in the air is elevated during clinical procedures that involve aerosol generation. To mitigate this risk, it is often necessary to leave rooms fallow for prolonged periods to facilitate air replenishment, leading to disrupted workflow and reduced capacity. Building on established mathematical theory, we propose an innovative way to accelerate the rate that contaminants are removed from the air, enabling fallow periods after AGPs to be shortened considerably. We present the development of a novel air disinfecting robot and describe key aspects of an operating procedure that enables more efficient air exchange. We share findings from a case study conducted at a large hospital in the United Kingdom where fallow times were reduced from 27 to 10 min using our approach. A usability survey indicated a high rate of acceptance among users and revealed that staff perceived the device improved the quality of care.