Space tech to beat infection in hospitals

AIR sterilisation technology developed for applications in outer space could revolutionise infection control in hospitals.

A pioneering project has adapted the science used in the “de-orbiting” of satellites, the process of bringing them back down to Earth after their useful life.

Project PASTA (Plasma Air Sterilisation and Treatment Apparatus) was recently seen on board a Spacex flight.

It has been developed by Dr Minkwan Kim, associate professor in astronautics at the University of Southampton. With funding from the European Space Agency, prototypes are now being trialled at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

The new technology is designed to be fitted into a hospital’s existing air filtration system. It accelerates the ageing process of “pathogens” – organisms that can produce disease – to eliminate them.

Dr Kim explained: “More than 300,000 hospital patients a year in England acquire an airborne virus while receiving treatment.

“Our aim is to address that problem directly, helping to protect patients and staff in hospital environments.”

Current air systems commonly rely on filtration and ventilation. But, experts say, they do not do enough to reduce patients’ exposure to airborne pathogens and decrease the spread of disease.

Dr Kim said: “Current systems only dilute air with fresh air to reduce the chances of infection.

“They do not eliminate the risk of pathogen transmission and have been proven insufficient for the filtration of smaller pathogenic agents, like viruses.

“A plasma treatment system eliminates this concern, as we’re treating the air inside the hospital and properly sterilising it.”

Dr Kim added: “By improving the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, PASTA has the potential to reduce carbon emissions. Our findings also estimate we could significantly reduce a hospital’s energy bill, as well as the added bonus of noise reduction caused by existing fans.”

‘We’re properly sterilising air’