Summary
In 91 English care homes, portable HEPA filters in communal rooms and bedrooms made no detectable difference to respiratory infections per resident per winter (0.99 vs 1.04; adjusted rate ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.64 to 1.33) or to staff absence, with both groups keeping their usual infection prevention measures.
Key points
- Respiratory infections per resident per winter were 0.99 with HEPA filters and 1.04 without (adjusted rate ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.64 to 1.33), with no evidence of a difference.
- Staff absence also did not differ (adjusted rate ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 1.16).
- Results were similar for residents exposed only to filters in communal rooms.
- Both groups kept their usual infection prevention measures.
- Design: cluster randomized trial in 91 English care homes, each for one winter, 2021 to 2024; residents' median age was about 87.