Another junk RCT came out

This time claiming "air purifiers don't reduce exposure to viruses in classrooms"

BOLLOCKS 1st clue this was going to be a junk study: they did an RCT

Wrong tool

There is no equipoise, no unknown or barely discernible benefit to weigh against likely harm

I learned something new this morning

Inhaled fine particles can cross the alveolar capillary junction into the bloodstream

Where red blood cells can pick up, carry and deposit the particles into organs and tissue cells throughout the body

😳

https://twitter.com/airqualitynews/status/1973836889275686941

Sadly, fine particles can be quite toxic

Laden with chemicals and heavy metals

Like particles from vehicle exhaust for example

Including diesel exhaust with toxic particles <1 µm in diameter

link.springer.com/article/10.100…

I broke a front tooth recently

And needed an extraction and implant

A 2 hour procedure

So off to the oral surgeon I went yesterday Staff were masked

HEPA Air filter was on

I wore my [breathe]2

As usual

Important Study from Canada 🇨🇦
👏👏👏

Risk mitigation of shared room ventilation and filtration on SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a multicenter test-negative study | Infection Control &amp; Hospital Epidemiology | Cambridge Core - bit.ly/3Vf0RyX ⬆️ ventilation = ⬇️ Covid HAIs

Increasing from 1 to 6 ACH = 50% reduction
(~40% to 20% attack rate)

Increasing from 6 to 10 ACH = more reduction
(~20% to 10% attack rate)

Good News!

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has called for universal respirator use in healthcare settings & when performing patient care outside of healthcare settings (eg – in the home) in the latest edition of CSA Z94.4, Selection, use and care of filtering respirators. How you can help:

The draft CSA Z94.4 Standard is now out for Public Review until August 19, 2025.

Please weigh in with your positive, constructive comments at .

Public Review comments are open to everyone who registers.publicreview.csa.ca/Home/View/2256…

@alijzimmerman @naner81 @GhostOfSocrates @N0nyM00se @doctor_zeest Thx Alison,

hopefully we can all take the temperature down a few notches, after all, we're all trying to make the system better. 😊

Let's start with 20 ACH Laminar Air Flow (LAF) in ORs. Good idea from the 1960s & generally an improvement over lower airflows. @alijzimmerman @naner81 @GhostOfSocrates @N0nyM00se @doctor_zeest Does it stop all airborne transmission?

Sadly, no.

Is it the best approach to stopping airborne transmission?

Sadly, no.

Does the medical community think it's the best approach to stop airborne transmission?

Sadly, yes. 😢

BREAKING NEWS!

Health Canada PMRA just approved AutoUV.

👏👏👏 Why is that important?

Because Hospital Acquired Infections are way too high & flash disinfecting air & surfaces immediately after occupancy, especially in hospital bathrooms, is a game changer for protecting patients (& HCWs) from exposure to pathogens

Joshua Haldeman, Elon Musk’s maternal grandfather, led the Canadian branch of “Technocracy Incorporated” in the 1930s.

This radical movement advocated replacing democratic governments in the U.S. and Canada with rule by technocrats and businessmen. Under Haldeman’s leadership, the movement adopted fascist characteristics.

Members wore gray uniforms modeled after Nazi attire.

When Canada declared war on Germany in 1939, the group was banned for Nazi sympathies.

I would be excited about this inhaled Covid vaccine being developed at McMaster if it was a traditional protein-based vaccine delivering a known volume of antigen(s) (similar to Novavax)

But it's not

https://twitter.com/meetjess/status/1901722451236491548

Novel vector vaccines (like this one) & mRNA vaccines are a neat trick

And manufacturers like them because they're easier, faster & cheaper to produce than protein-based vaccines

"Quad-demic"?

What do you call this???

Octadeca-demic?

H/T @1goodtern for graphs

https://twitter.com/meetjess/status/1884420336327733441

If you add these 18 to the quad-demic

And add in HMPV for good measure

You would have a
"vigesima-tredecim-demic"

23 diseases on the rise

I enjoy working through thought experiments & math models with Perplexity

Especially ones that challenge the dogma rife in IPC World

Especially simple ones that serve as sanity checks

That everyone in IPC World could & should be asking

But aren't Five or 10 minutes of prompts and interaction can erase 100 years of toxic misinformation

Supported with sources

For example:

Breaking News:

DROPLET TRANSMISSION

IS A MYTH Phony as a $3 dollar bill

Fake news

Total bupkus

Wild-ass 19th century speculation that took on a life of its own

Despite all rhyme or reason

Bird Flu Vaccine

Norway - ordered enough for 100% of their population

U.S. - ordered enough for 2% of population immediately & is supporting mfrs to scale up production

Canada - ordered zero; no production plans; will order if & when pandemic is announced by WHO or other This is not unexpected due to differences in recent leadership styles, politics & cultures of these 3 nations

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was established in response to SARS1 to protect the nation against future outbreaks, epidemics & pandemics

PHAC annual budget:
> $1 Billion

PHAC number of employees:
> 4,000 So...

How did that work out for us?

🇨🇦

For more than two years now, CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) has pushed back against science, the public, HCWs, patients, Long Covid victims, & common sense to introduce better airborne protections for healthcare workers and patients The last time the guidance for "Airborne, Contact, & Droplet Precautions" was updated was 2007

A lot has changed since then

We now know most diseases are transmitted "through the air"

In fine aerosols

Not large "droplets"

And we face numerous airborne disease threats now

In the learn something new every day category...

I'm getting some nuclear medicine bone scans done this morning to look at the extent of my infections...
So I did a bit of research & learned Canada is a world leader in new production technology for Technetium, Tc-99m, the radioactive isotope used for 85% of scans worldwide

About 30 million scans per year

I'm concerned that ppl may think all we need to do is follow ASHRAE 241 or deliver 6 ACH to ensure safe indoor air

When that fails to stop the pandemic, there will be a backlash against investing in Safe Indoor Air This reminds me of the over promise of vaccines

They were never going to stop the pandemic

Neither will ASHRAE 241 or 6 ACH

Today I had an opportunity to address the CDC HICPAC committee

The amazing speakers before me covered many topics but generally pushed the committee to do more to protect patients & HCWs, esp wrt protection from airborne transmission
👏👏👏

This was my 3 minute pitch: This is a turning point in the history of disease transmission and Infection Control.

We already face an unprecedented challenge of pathogens that transmit through the air with even more serious highly pathogenic threats on the horizon.

Hi everyone,

The CSA Standard, Cleaning & Disinfection of Healthcare Facilities, is now available for Public Review & comment until Dec 3rd.

Here’s the link:
publicreview.csa.ca/Home/Details/5… To ensure there is clear direction for HCWs to wear respirators while cleaning, there are two areas I can see that could benefit from public comment:

4.4 PPE for cleaning and disinfecting

12 Health and safety

It looks like 2022 was the Tipping Point for opportunistic infections due to Covid

Which makes sense

Since 2022 was the year the world abandoned Covid precautions

Thx @1goodtern 🙏 ☺️

https://twitter.com/1goodtern/status/1852720599388319942

Certainly that's what happened here in Canada 🇨🇦

😢

I asked @perplexity_ai,

"What's the best way to stop the Covid airborne pandemic?"

The answer surprised me "To effectively mitigate the airborne transmission of COVID-19, a multi-faceted approach focusing on indoor environments is crucial. Here are the key strategies to combat the spread of the virus:
Ventilation Improvements
Enhancing ventilation is one of the most effective ways to reduce the concentration of airborne viral particles indoors.
Increase outdoor air supply: Boost the amount of fresh outdoor air circulating in indoor spaces. This can be achieved through:
•Opening windows and doors when possible
•Adjusting HVAC systems to bring in more outdoor air
•Using window fans to exhaust indoor air and draw in fresh air
Optimize air exchange rates: Aim for higher air changes per hour (ACH) to dilute potential contaminants.
Disable demand-controlled ventilation: Turn off systems that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature during occupied hours.
Air Filtration and Purification
Use high-efficiency filters: Install MERV-13 or higher rated filters in HVAC systems to capture a greater percentage of airborne particles.
Deploy portable air cleaners: Use HEPA air purifiers in areas with poor ventilation or high occupancy.
Air Disinfection
UV air disinfection: Install ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems to inactivate viruses in the air.
Occupancy and Behavior Modifications
Reduce indoor occupancy: Limit the number of people in enclosed spaces to decrease the potential for viral spread.
Encourage mask-wearing: Proper use of well-fitting masks can significantly reduce the emission and inhalation of respiratory droplets.
Maintain physical distancing: Keep at least 6 feet apart, especially during activities that increase respiratory droplet emission.
Monitoring and Management
CO2 monitoring: Use CO2 levels as an indicator of ventilation adequacy and potential viral spread.
Regular maintenance: Ensure HVAC systems and air cleaning devices are properly maintained and functioning optimally.
Comprehensive Approach
It’s important to note that no single strategy is sufficient on its own. A layered approach combining multiple interventions is most effective in reducing the risk of airborne transmission. Building owners and managers should consider consulting with HVAC professionals to implement these strategies safely and effectively.
By implementing these evidence-based measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in indoor environments and help control the pandemic."