Research

The Economic and Workforce Implications of Facility Acquired Infections

A conference presentation by Dr. Kathryn C. Worrilow, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of LifeAire Systems, delivered at the LeadingAge Fall Financial Conference. The presentation examines the economic and workforce implications of facility-acquired infections in long-term care environments, addressing the financial burden of HAIs on facility operations, the impact of staff absenteeism driven by airborne pathogen exposure, and the return on investment case for advanced air purification as a proactive infection control strategy. Drawing on LifeAire’s peer-reviewed clinical evidence from long-term care settings — including a 39.6% reduction in facility-acquired infections and a 47% reduction in staff call-outs — the presentation makes the financial and operational case for comprehensive airborne pathogen remediation in senior living and memory care environments. Presented at the LeadingAge Fall Financial Conference, 2023. Author: Worrilow, K.C.

air purification technology environmental clinical metrics healthcare settings
Research

The Effects of Air Purification Technology on Environmental and Clinical Metrics in Two Healthcare Settings

A peer-reviewed, IRB-approved post-hoc synthesis of two independent clinical studies examining the impact of LifeAire’s advanced air purification technology on environmental and clinical metrics in two healthcare settings: an acute care hospital medical-surgical floor and a long-term care memory support unit. Both facilities showed significant reductions in airborne and surface bacterial and fungal pathogens and VOC levels. The hospital demonstrated a 39.5% reduction in patient length of stay and 23% cost savings. The long-term care facility showed a 39.6% reduction in facility-acquired infections and a 47% reduction in staff call-outs. Published in ASHRAE Transactions, Volume 128, Part 2, June 2022. Authors: Worrilow, K.C.; Stawicki, S.P.; Schlener, S.D.; Urrutia, A.R.; Kimble, C.N.

Research

Modeling the equilibrium partitioning of low concentrations of airborne volatile organic compounds in human IVF laboratories

A peer-reviewed study published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online examining the equilibrium partitioning behavior of volatile organic compounds at low concentrations in human IVF laboratory environments. Using mathematical modeling, the study investigates how airborne VOCs at trace concentrations distribute between the gas phase and biological media including culture media and embryonic cells, demonstrating the potential for molecular-level chemical contamination of the embryo culture environment. The findings support the clinical rationale for comprehensive VOC remediation in IVF laboratories as a necessary component of embryo protection. Published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online, May 2022. Authors: Fox, J.T.; Ni, P.; Urrutia, A.R.; Huynh, H.T.; Worrilow, K.C.

Research

Reduced FAIs & Staff Call-Outs, A 15-Month Study

A conference presentation delivered at the 2021 NADSA National Conference reporting preliminary findings from a 15-month IRB-approved study of LifeAire’s advanced air purification technology in a long-term care memory support facility. The study compared a LifeAire-protected unit with a HEPA-only control unit on the same floor, measuring airborne and surface pathogen burden, facility-acquired infection rates, and staff absenteeism over the full study period. Results demonstrated significant reductions in facility-acquired infections and staff call-outs in the LifeAire-protected unit. This conference presentation preceded the full peer-reviewed publication of the study’s findings in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A (2023) and in the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (2023). Presented at the 2021 NADSA National Conference, October 2021. Authors: Schlener, S.; Urrutia, A.R.; Worrilow, K.C.

Research

Installation of an Advanced Air Purification System in a Hospital Setting Led to Improved Environmental and Clinical Outcomes

A peer-reviewed study published in RenaRum examining the environmental and clinical effects of installing LifeAire’s advanced air purification system in a hospital setting. The study measured changes in airborne and surface pathogen burden, volatile organic compound levels, and clinical outcome metrics following LifeAire installation, contributing to the growing body of peer-reviewed operational evidence supporting advanced air purification as a clinical intervention in acute care hospital environments. Published in RenaRum, 2021. Authors: Johansson, L.; Urrutia, A.R.; Huynh, H.; Worrilow, K.C.

Research

Modeling of airborne embryonic volatile compounds (VOCs) in the IVF culture environment – their concomitant cytotoxic concentration within the growth media and embryo.

A peer-reviewed conference abstract published in Fertility and Sterility, Volume 112, Issue 3, presenting early modeling research on the behavior of airborne volatile organic compounds in IVF culture environments. Using equilibrium partitioning models, the study demonstrates how airborne VOCs partition from the air phase through the oil cover layer into water-based culture media and into or onto the embryo itself, reaching cytotoxic concentrations even at low ambient air concentrations. Seven VOCs — including acrolein, formaldehyde, phenol, toluene, acetaldehyde, ethanol, and isopropanol — were identified as of particular concern to embryologists and clinicians. This conference abstract preceded the full peer-reviewed publication in Reproductive BioMedicine Online in 2022. Published in Fertility and Sterility, 2019; 112(3):E122-E123. Authors: Worrilow, K.C.; Urrutia, A.R.; Huynh, H.T.; Fox, J.T.

Research

Comprehensive and live air purification as a key environmental, clinical, and patient safety factor: A prospective evaluation

A peer-reviewed book chapter published in Vignettes in Patient Safety, Volume 4, edited by Stanislaw P. Stawicki and Michael S. Firstenberg (IntechOpen, March 2019). The chapter presents the first comprehensive prospective evaluation of infectious and aerosolized pathogens — including their speciation, location, and concentration — within a typical hospital setting, and examines the relationship between airborne pathogens and air filtration methodologies in the context of the molecular and microbial epidemiology of illness and infection in clinical environments. The study represents foundational environmental evidence from St. Luke’s University Health Network that preceded the full retrospective cohort study published in Surgery in 2020. Published in IntechOpen, March 2019. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.84530. Authors: Stawicki, S.P.; Brisendine, C.; Levicoff, L.; Ford, F.; Snyder, B.; Eid, S.; Worrilow, K.C.

Research

Statistically significant improvements in clinical outcomes using engineered molecular media and genomically modeled ultraviolet light for comprehensive control of Ambient Air (AA) quality.

A peer-reviewed conference abstract published in Fertility and Sterility, Volume 102, 2014, examining the impact of LifeAire’s Aire~IVF air purification system on clinical outcomes in 1,245 non-donor IVF patients across three fertility programs over 24 months. The study evaluated the effect of comprehensive ambient air quality control — using engineered molecular media and genomically modeled ultraviolet light — on key IVF outcome metrics. Results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and blastocyst conversion rate following system installation, with blastocyst conversion rate increasing from 57.1% to 67.6%. The findings confirm that controlling airborne pathogens and improving ambient air quality are critical factors in optimizing embryogenesis outcomes. Published in Fertility and Sterility, 2014; 102:e91. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.07.307. Authors: Forman, M.; Sparks, A.E.T.; Degelos, S.; Koulianos, G.; Worrilow, K.C.