Biocontainment stretchers effectively isolate the virus

Key to the safety of medical operators in the context of transporting or treating infectious patients is biosafety: a set of biological safeguards designed to isolate dangerous pathogens. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept was almost unknown to insiders. The advent of the pandemic has raised awareness and led to technological developments in the industry.

Definition of biological protection

The term bioprotection is used to denote methods and procedures, tools and equipment that allow the safe transport and treatment of patients who may expose medical operators to viruses and bacteria.

Therefore, biocontainment is a method of isolation that can prevent transmission during the transportation of an infected person or during the care of a health facility. Research laboratories also need biological protection when dealing with infectious agents. Biocontainment areas used to treat or transport patients are equipped with a system so that droplets emitted through water vapor are inhaled, passed through filters, purified and reintroduced into the environment.

Permanent Spaces such as laboratories are specially designed based on the level of safety that must be ensured.
Biological protection can have positive or negative pressure. The first protection against potential external risks is usually used in patients with immunosuppressive diseases. Negative pressure, on the other hand, prevents the spread of viruses or other pathogens from the inside out and can therefore be used to protect operators from possible infection.

Level 4 biological protection

Based on the hazards of the surrounding environment, bioprotection is divided into four levels of safety:
Level 1, when the pathogen does not cause disease in healthy adults;
Level 2, similar to Level 1, is intended to avoid transmission of moderately risky pathogens to people and the environment;
Level 3 is for agents that may be fatal to humans but have a cure;
Level 4 is necessary because of the high risk of an airborne infection, which can be fatal to humans and still has no cure or vaccine.

Five rules for a good biocontainment system

1. A good bioprotection system must have filters and certification of sufficient size for its space of use to minimize the risk of the spread of potentially infectious particles.
2. It must provide continuous monitoring of preset negative or positive pressure values, and it must be able to compensate for any changes to the patient as a result of external intervention.
3. It must be certified in accordance with existing regulations of the reference country/territory.
4. Backup power supply system must be equipped to avoid accidental interruption of ventilation system.
5. Ventilation devices must ensure frequent ventilation.

What is a bioprotective isolation stretcher?
In the area of bioprotection, stretchers used to isolate infectious patients are worth mentioning.
The bioprotective isolation stretcher is constructed with a transparent top cover and is equipped with a battery powered system for ventilation and filtration. There are openings on the side of the stretcher through which medical personnel can intervene with the patient. As top transparency, visual contact is also guaranteed. They are commonly used for movement between ambulances, hospital departments and transport by plane or helicopter.

The healthcare crisis drives innovation
The pandemic has also enabled lay people to understand and understand the importance of health protection procedures and systems, including bioprotection.
In addition, much research in the healthcare and medical sectors has been promoted, particularly in relation to patient safety and transportation technologies.
Recent experience must be applied to the future to facilitate the development of a safety culture and procedural organization, as well as more technologically advanced equipment for medical transport vehicles.