The role of upper respiratory infections in causing asthma exacerbations is well documented, and accounts for approximately 80% of childhood asthma exacerbations and hospitalizations. Rhinoviruses are the major implicated pathogens. A significant body of evidence suggests that schools are an important site of transmission of respiratory infections but little effort has gone into finding methods to decrease infectious disease transmission. The objectives of this crossover intervention study are to determine the effectiveness of three air disinfection techniques in reducing grade school children's asthma attack rates, visits to the nurse and absence rates due to respiratory infections. Upper-room ultraviolet lights, photocatalytic oxidation devices and high-efficiency filters will be installed in classrooms at a grade school in Connecticut. Airborne rhinovirus concentrations will be collected and monitored throughout the school year and analyzed using quantitative PCR methods. Absence data will be collected from the school database, and nurse's visits from the school nurse's log. Data will be modeled using advanced logistic regression models to determine effectiveness of interventions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AI061884-03
Application #
7093523
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-H (29))
Program Officer
Hernandez, Milton J
Project Start
2004-08-23
Project End
2007-08-22
Budget Start
2006-08-23
Budget End
2007-08-22
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$29,419
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
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Fabian, P; McDevitt, J J; Houseman, E A et al. (2009) Airborne influenza virus detection with four aerosol samplers using molecular and infectivity assays: considerations for a new infectious virus aerosol sampler. Indoor Air 19:433-41
Fabian, Patricia; McDevitt, James Joseph; Lee, Wai-Ming et al. (2009) An optimized method to detect influenza virus and human rhinovirus from exhaled breath and the airborne environment. J Environ Monit 11:314-7