Air Purifier Intervention for Respiratory Viral Exposure in Elementary Schools

Is the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers associated with reduced respiratory virus exposure in elementary school classrooms?In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial of 200 classrooms, respiratory viral exposures were high; HEPA purifiers were not associated with an overall reduction in viral burden.Mitigating respiratory viral exposures in schools may require multicomponent interventions, including addressing both air filtration and additional indoor environmental factors.

Corresponding Author: Peggy S. Lai, MD, MPH, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Bulfinch 148, Boston, MA 02114 (plai@mgh.harvard.edu).

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