The availability of HEPA-filtered rooms and the incidence of pneumonia in patients after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): results from a prospective, multicentre, eastern European study
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To establish the availability of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)- and nonHEPA-filtered rooms in eastern European transplant centres and to investigate the impact on incidence of pneumonia and mortality after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). BACKGROUND: Barrier nursing in HEPA-filtered rooms is generally recommended for patients undergoing HSCT.
There are only limited data on the availability of HEPA-filtered rooms and the impact on incidence of pneumonia and mortality. DESIGN: A prospective, observational, international study.
METHODS: Monitoring cards were distributed within the East Forum EBMT-Nurses Group cooperating centres, and 689 consecutive patients were registered in 1/2010-6/2012. Patients were monitored for 100 days post-transplant.
RESULTS: In patients undergoing autologous HSCT, pneumonia developed in 14/400 (3.5%) and was the cause of death in 2/14 (14%) of patients. There was no significant difference in mortality between HEPA-filtered and nonHEPA-filtered groups (4.5% vs. 4.9%, respectively). 239/400 (59%) transplantations were performed in single-bed rooms [190/239 (79%) HEPA-filtered] and 161 (41%) in two-bed rooms [28/161 (17%) HEPA-filtered].
In allogeneic transplantation, pneumonia developed in 24/289 (8.3%) and was the cause of death in 11/24 (45%) of patients. There was no significant difference in mortality between HEPA-filtered and non-HEPA-filtered groups (14% vs. 17%, respectively). 281/289 (97%) of allogeneic transplantations were performed in single-bed rooms [254/281 (90%) HEPA-filtered], and pneumonia was more frequent in patients on corticosteroids and in rooms without HEPA.