AFRI-c v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Air Filtration to prevent symptomatic winter Respiratory Infections (including COVID-19) in care homes: the AFRI-c cluster randomised controlled trial with nested internal pilot, process and economic evaluations (AFRI-c)
IRAS ID
298022
Contact name
Alastair Hay
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Univeristy of Bristol (UoB)
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN63437172
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Respiratory infections, such as COVID, coughs, colds and flu are more serious in older people. In care homes, infections can spread easily in shared spaces when people breathe in or swallow airborne droplets containing germs when others cough or sneeze.
This study aims to find out whether air filtration using portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can reduce symptoms of respiratory infections in residents of older people’s care homes during the winter period. For years, these air filters have been built into hospital operating theatres and transplant wards to prevent infections. Although we know they trap airborne particles, no one has tested if they can improve human health.
Care homes will be divided into two groups at random, with one continuing with usual care AND receiving air filters, and the other continuing with usual care only. We are interested to see whether filters placed in communal and private rooms reduce infection symptoms, antibiotic use and number of falls as well as cost-effectiveness of the filters. We are also interested in the effect of the filters on staff sickness days away from work.
We will recruit from 74 care homes in England. The duration of recruitment will be over 3 winters (10 in pilot phase, 32 each winter thereafter). Care home staff will collect data about residents’ symptoms, and will recruit 10 residents per care home. These residents in the air filter group will consent to receive an air filter in their bedroom and access to their medical records. For the usual care group they will consent for their medical records to be accessed. We aim to include 834 residents who will be in the trial for up to 8 months each. The results of this trial will help understand whether or not filters can reduce the spread of infections.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/HRA/4318
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion