NTA Level 4 • Semester 1 • PST04102

Air Purification in Pharmaceutical Settings

Disease Control and Prevention • Source Session/Topic 12

Full source-text version: all educational wording from the extracted learning source is retained; only presenter/tutor metadata and web-layout noise are removed, while formatting is improved for readability.

Session 12: Air Purification in Pharmaceutical Settings

Total Session Time: 120 minutes + 2 hours Assignment

Prerequisites

• None

Students Learning Task

By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:

• Explain process and application of air purification in pharmaceutical

settings

Resources Needed

• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape

• Black/white board, chalk and whiteboard markers

• Computer and LCD Projector

SESSION OVERVIEW

SESSION CONTENTS

STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Task (5 minutes)

READ or ASK students to read the learning task and clarify

ASK students if they have any questions before continuing

STEP 2: The Process and Application of Air Purification in Pharmaceutical

Settings (85 minutes)

|Activity: Buzzing (10 minutes) |

| |

|ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 |

|minutes |

| |

|What is air purification? |

|What are the methods used in the process of air purification? |

| |

|ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pair to add on points not |

|mentioned |

| |

|WRITE their response on the flip chart/board |

| |

|CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below |

Definition of Air purification – It is a process of cleansing the air

from impurities and microorganisms

• The process of air purification involve different methods

• The methods used in the process of air purification are applied in a

sterile manufacturing room to provide sterile condition to perform

sterile pharmaceutical production, as explained below:

Sterilization by radiation

• Means energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or

waves/ particles. The ionizing radiations include Alpha, Beta, Gamma

and X-ray. In a sufficient dose, these radiations are lethal to all

cells, including bacterial spores, which are generally more resistant

than vegetative cells

• Bacterial species differ in their sensitivity to ionizing radiations

and the degree of resistance varies during the growth cycle

• It is used for the commercial sterilization of large amounts of pre-

packed single use items such as plastic syringes and catheters

Laminar Air flow carbinate

• Is a system of circulating filtered air in parallel-flowing planes in

hospitals or in the health care facilities

• The system reduces the risk of airborne contamination and exposure to

chemical pollutants in hospital pharmacies

• It is also used in other areas such as surgical theatres, food

preparation areas and laboratories

Mechanical/ Forced ventilation

• Outside air is delivered indoors typically with fans, which draw air

from outside and forces it through ducts to the place where occupants

are located

• Mechanical ventilation can exacerbate infiltration and/or exfiltration

• There are 3 types of mechanical ventilation as follows:

o Exhaust (vacuum) system: Fans draw air out of the building in

openings high up in the outside walls which is replaced by fresh air

through windows and other inlets

▪ Local exhaust ventilation is absolutely required when the source

have dust, exhaust fumes, solvent vapors, lead fumes, and acid mist,

all known as toxic or corrosive contaminants.The fans may be placed

directly in windows or outside walls or in ducts which lead the air

outside. It is a system that is useful for the removal of dust, smoke

and fumes in some factories

o Pressure (propulsion) system: Unlike the exhaust system, this forces

the air into a building and therefore control of entering air is

possible, the fresh entering air displaces the used up air. The

advantage of this method is that the source of air-entry can be

controlled and its purity thereby ensured. The air can be filtered,

warmed or cooled as required

o Balanced system: This is a combination of the exhaust and pressure

system.

Air is drawn in through ducts by means of a centrifugal fan and

extracted at suitable points by exhaust fan

▪ It facilitates good distribution of fresh air by placing supply and

exhaust vents in appropriate places

▪ Balanced ventilation systems are appropriate for all climates;

however, because they require two duct and fan systems, they are

usually expensive

▪ Air conditioning is generally employed with this type of ventilation

and the temperature and humidity can be controlled

▪ It is suitable for factories where a control of humidity and

temperature is necessary to the processes being carried out

Reasons for using Mechanical/ Forced ventilation

o To keep flammable gases and vapours below the lower flammable limit

(LFL).

o To keep the air movement at a certain level so that the air stress can

be reduced

o To keep toxic contaminants at or below certain concentrations

o To reduce odours

o To control microorganisms, dusts and other particulates

o To limit carbon dioxide build-up

STEP 3: Key Points (10 minutes)

• Air purification is a process which removes contaminants from the air

in a room. Air purification methods are used in pharmaceutical setting

to remove impurities such as carbon-dioxide from air before processing

• Dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, mite faeces, smoke particles

and volatile organic compounds are some sources of contaminants that

may affect personnel and products in pharmaceutical setting

• Air purifiers are very important in capturing a greater number of

bacterial and virus particulates. They are used to reduce the

concentration of these airborne contaminants

STEP 4: Evaluation (10 minutes)

• What are the reasons for air purification in pharmaceutical setting?

• What are the three methods used for air purification in pharmaceutical

setting?

STEP 5: Assignment (10 minutes)

| Activity: Take Home Assignment (10 minutes) |

| |

|DIVIDE students in groups or individuals |

| |

|ASK students to work on the following Assignment |

| |

|Visit The Hospital Pharmacy Department and prepare a presentation on |

|the methods that are used for Air Purification in different sections. |

| |

|ALLOCATE time for students to do the assignments and submit |

| |

|REFER students to recommended references |

References

Basset, W.H. (1992).Clay’s Handbook of Environmental Health (16thed).

London:

Chapman and Hall

Nyamwaya, D. (1994): A Guide to Health Promotion through Water and

Sanitation, Nairobi: AMREF

Salvato J.A. (1982). Environmental Engineering and Sanitation (3rded). New

York:

John Wiley and Sons

Subi, S. (2008).Environmental Health Hand Book for Clinical Officer

Students. Kilosa:

Tanzania

Wood C. H., Vaughan JP., & de Glanville H. (1997). Community Health

(2nded). Nairobi: AMREF

← Previous Topic Next Topic →View all Disease Control and Prevention topics Open Complete Full Notes

PDF / OFFLINE NOTES

Unataka kutumiwa notes hizi kupitia WhatsApp?Kwa notes zilizopangiliwa vizuri kwa kusoma offline au PDF, bonyeza kitufe hapa chini. Ujumbe wenye Level, Semester, Module na Topic utaandaliwa moja kwa moja.TUMIWA NOTES WHATSAPP

WhatsApp: 255620339260