Matt Butler
@drmattbutler.bsky.social
Geriatrician | PI AAirDS | Views my own | Retweets ≠ Endorsement | #FreshAirNHS | #COVIDisAirborne | http://www.AAirDS.com
Reposted by Matt Butler
Our Nature Perspectives paper on how Independent SAGE communicated with the public and vice versa.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Independent SAGE as an example of effective public dialogue on scientific research - Nature Protocols
The members of Independent SAGE reflect on their experience in setting up, developing and running a science communication platform and service to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic
www.nature.com
December 17, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Our Nature Perspectives paper on how Independent SAGE communicated with the public and vice versa.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Matt Butler
Narrator: She made this up.
December 16, 2024 at 11:20 PM
Narrator: She made this up.
Reposted by Matt Butler
"The Occupational Impact of COVID-19 in the Transport and Education Sectors" just published by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) as a "Command Paper" by the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions.
A brief summary & some comments follow...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
A brief summary & some comments follow...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Occupational Impact of COVID-19 in the Transport and Education Sectors
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council concludes its report into links between COVID-19 and occupational sectors.
www.gov.uk
November 15, 2024 at 9:51 AM
"The Occupational Impact of COVID-19 in the Transport and Education Sectors" just published by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) as a "Command Paper" by the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions.
A brief summary & some comments follow...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
A brief summary & some comments follow...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Matt Butler
A tale of two platforms:
BlueSky user numbers have hit a new record high in recent days, while the number of people deleting their accounts on X/Twitter has rocketed 🚀
BlueSky user numbers have hit a new record high in recent days, while the number of people deleting their accounts on X/Twitter has rocketed 🚀
November 13, 2024 at 11:21 AM
A tale of two platforms:
BlueSky user numbers have hit a new record high in recent days, while the number of people deleting their accounts on X/Twitter has rocketed 🚀
BlueSky user numbers have hit a new record high in recent days, while the number of people deleting their accounts on X/Twitter has rocketed 🚀
Pleased to have the clinical outcome from AAirDS in print at last; a mere 18 months after study closure 🥴.
I know the headline figure to some may be disappointing but lots to draw out that's encouraging.
Watch this space!
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
I know the headline figure to some may be disappointing but lots to draw out that's encouraging.
Watch this space!
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
November 14, 2024 at 9:25 PM
Pleased to have the clinical outcome from AAirDS in print at last; a mere 18 months after study closure 🥴.
I know the headline figure to some may be disappointing but lots to draw out that's encouraging.
Watch this space!
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
I know the headline figure to some may be disappointing but lots to draw out that's encouraging.
Watch this space!
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
For those at the CIBSE Build2Perform Live event today here is an excellent thread summing up some of the findings from AAirDS.
Can air purifier (HEPA) units prevent spread of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals? Important new data from the AAirDS study led by
Victoria Keevil in @thejhi.bsky.social
TL:DR Probably – but implementation is key. A short 🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
Victoria Keevil in @thejhi.bsky.social
TL:DR Probably – but implementation is key. A short 🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
Redirecting
doi.org
November 14, 2024 at 9:22 PM
For those at the CIBSE Build2Perform Live event today here is an excellent thread summing up some of the findings from AAirDS.
Reposted by Matt Butler
Can air purifier (HEPA) units prevent spread of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals? Important new data from the AAirDS study led by
Victoria Keevil in @thejhi.bsky.social
TL:DR Probably – but implementation is key. A short 🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
Victoria Keevil in @thejhi.bsky.social
TL:DR Probably – but implementation is key. A short 🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
Redirecting
doi.org
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Can air purifier (HEPA) units prevent spread of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals? Important new data from the AAirDS study led by
Victoria Keevil in @thejhi.bsky.social
TL:DR Probably – but implementation is key. A short 🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
Victoria Keevil in @thejhi.bsky.social
TL:DR Probably – but implementation is key. A short 🧵
doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...
Reposted by Matt Butler
A little bit of background
We know that SARS-CoV-2 spreads in hospitals, and in other enclosed spaces.
We know you can find SARS-CoV-2 in the air and that airborne transmission occurs.
t.co/E5BO0h4q7s
We know that SARS-CoV-2 spreads in hospitals, and in other enclosed spaces.
We know you can find SARS-CoV-2 in the air and that airborne transmission occurs.
t.co/E5BO0h4q7s
https://elifesciences.org/articles/71131
t.co
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
A little bit of background
We know that SARS-CoV-2 spreads in hospitals, and in other enclosed spaces.
We know you can find SARS-CoV-2 in the air and that airborne transmission occurs.
t.co/E5BO0h4q7s
We know that SARS-CoV-2 spreads in hospitals, and in other enclosed spaces.
We know you can find SARS-CoV-2 in the air and that airborne transmission occurs.
t.co/E5BO0h4q7s
Reposted by Matt Butler
Previous work in Addenbrooke's demonstrated that we could detect SARS-CoV-2 in the air of COVID wards (but not COVID ICU!) and that HEPA filters removed it very effectively
The key question, would this translate into reduced in-hospital transmission?
t.co/CuPc8AE1bq
The key question, would this translate into reduced in-hospital transmission?
t.co/CuPc8AE1bq
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/75/1/e97/6414657?login=false
t.co
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Previous work in Addenbrooke's demonstrated that we could detect SARS-CoV-2 in the air of COVID wards (but not COVID ICU!) and that HEPA filters removed it very effectively
The key question, would this translate into reduced in-hospital transmission?
t.co/CuPc8AE1bq
The key question, would this translate into reduced in-hospital transmission?
t.co/CuPc8AE1bq
Reposted by Matt Butler
So we set up the AAirDS study, deploying HEPA-based air cleaning units in two wards whilst not deploying them in matched wards – excluding periods when these wards were used as COVID-19 cohort wards themselves. Using routine healthcare data we then observed rates of COVID-19.
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
So we set up the AAirDS study, deploying HEPA-based air cleaning units in two wards whilst not deploying them in matched wards – excluding periods when these wards were used as COVID-19 cohort wards themselves. Using routine healthcare data we then observed rates of COVID-19.
Reposted by Matt Butler
Overall COVID-19 was ‘lumpy’, and rates of in-hospital transmission were lower than expected but increased over time. Whilst the air cleaning intervention didn’t abolish transmission it was reduced by 22%
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Overall COVID-19 was ‘lumpy’, and rates of in-hospital transmission were lower than expected but increased over time. Whilst the air cleaning intervention didn’t abolish transmission it was reduced by 22%
Reposted by Matt Butler
The hazard ratio for nosocomial transmission was 0.9 (95% 0.53-1.52) – so reduced, but we cannot be certain about this as the confidence interval crosses 1 (so true effect may be reduced transmission, no effect or even increased transmission)
a man says it 's certainly possible in yellow
ALT: a man says it 's certainly possible in yellow
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
The hazard ratio for nosocomial transmission was 0.9 (95% 0.53-1.52) – so reduced, but we cannot be certain about this as the confidence interval crosses 1 (so true effect may be reduced transmission, no effect or even increased transmission)
Reposted by Matt Butler
In the second ward pair we saw a much smaller difference, but this was also as other restrictions were being lifted and compliance with the HEPA filters dropped as they were increasingly turned off.
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
In the second ward pair we saw a much smaller difference, but this was also as other restrictions were being lifted and compliance with the HEPA filters dropped as they were increasingly turned off.
Reposted by Matt Butler
Why did people turn them off? Multiple reasons, including not seeing these devices as important for infection prevention and control, being moderately noisy and perception of drafts. Whatever the reasons, inoperative devices won't have an effect.
t.co/VCn7VVn285
t.co/VCn7VVn285
https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(24)00316-5/abstract
t.co
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Why did people turn them off? Multiple reasons, including not seeing these devices as important for infection prevention and control, being moderately noisy and perception of drafts. Whatever the reasons, inoperative devices won't have an effect.
t.co/VCn7VVn285
t.co/VCn7VVn285
Reposted by Matt Butler
Given our previous findings of a wide range of other organisms in the air of hospitals, we also looked to see if other nosocomial infections (yellow bars in the figures above) were reduced – overall rates of these were too low to see any difference.
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Given our previous findings of a wide range of other organisms in the air of hospitals, we also looked to see if other nosocomial infections (yellow bars in the figures above) were reduced – overall rates of these were too low to see any difference.
Reposted by Matt Butler
So what can we conclude. 1) The effect seen was consistent with previous data 2) If HEPA filters are effective they are far from a panacea 3) prevention of nosocomial viral infections will need a multi-modal approach.
a woman says " there 's so many more layers to it " in a younger tv ad
ALT: a woman says " there 's so many more layers to it " in a younger tv ad
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2024 at 7:11 PM
So what can we conclude. 1) The effect seen was consistent with previous data 2) If HEPA filters are effective they are far from a panacea 3) prevention of nosocomial viral infections will need a multi-modal approach.
Reposted by Matt Butler
Good question. We didn’t specifically ask this, but these devices produce a low rumble which is mildly disruptive to conversation- but not a highly irritating high pitched whine.
November 7, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Good question. We didn’t specifically ask this, but these devices produce a low rumble which is mildly disruptive to conversation- but not a highly irritating high pitched whine.
Reposted by Matt Butler
On the noise aspects did you get any comments on the “quality” of the sound. Some noise is more annoying than others even though the dB can be the same.
November 7, 2024 at 2:46 PM
On the noise aspects did you get any comments on the “quality” of the sound. Some noise is more annoying than others even though the dB can be the same.
Reposted by Matt Butler
This is likely to be something to do with the outcomes we recently reported. The HEPA filter intervention had a modest association with reduction in nosocomial COVID acquisition. Adherence to the intervention was imperfect, especially at later time points. t.co/ks5CpmHhtO
https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(24)00325-6/fulltext
t.co
November 7, 2024 at 2:47 PM
This is likely to be something to do with the outcomes we recently reported. The HEPA filter intervention had a modest association with reduction in nosocomial COVID acquisition. Adherence to the intervention was imperfect, especially at later time points. t.co/ks5CpmHhtO
Reposted by Matt Butler
Recent work from the AAirDS study of HEPA airfilters in hospital wards. Acceptability of the devices has a significant impact on utilisation- and if the devices aren’t turned on they cant work. Important for implementation authors.elsevier.com/a/1k33PiVO0E...
authors.elsevier.com
November 7, 2024 at 2:17 PM
Recent work from the AAirDS study of HEPA airfilters in hospital wards. Acceptability of the devices has a significant impact on utilisation- and if the devices aren’t turned on they cant work. Important for implementation authors.elsevier.com/a/1k33PiVO0E...
Reposted by Matt Butler
🚨NHS Trust leadership 101
Forget truth: protect the organisation
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...
Forget truth: protect the organisation
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...
QEUH families blast NHS chiefs for spending thousands to coach staff for inquiry
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: Glasgow health bosses have been getting training from a PR firm before giving evidence at a public inquiry.
www.dailyrecord.co.uk
November 10, 2024 at 2:03 PM
🚨NHS Trust leadership 101
Forget truth: protect the organisation
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...
Forget truth: protect the organisation
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...
Reposted by Matt Butler
In February 2021, Vallance writes in his notes that it was “real struggle” to get Johnson to understand graphs from the Covid dashboard.
Emphasises the importance of basic degree of scientific literacy in government, which the Prime Minister clearly did not possess.
Emphasises the importance of basic degree of scientific literacy in government, which the Prime Minister clearly did not possess.
November 23, 2023 at 7:50 PM
In February 2021, Vallance writes in his notes that it was “real struggle” to get Johnson to understand graphs from the Covid dashboard.
Emphasises the importance of basic degree of scientific literacy in government, which the Prime Minister clearly did not possess.
Emphasises the importance of basic degree of scientific literacy in government, which the Prime Minister clearly did not possess.
Reposted by Matt Butler
Communication at all levels must be clear and this doesn’t seem to be the case (not pointing fingers). this also raises importance of transparency with public too which was why independent SAGE was established- to listen to and talk with the public directly. Full link to article pic taken from here
Herd immunity was never UK policy, Chris Whitty tells Covid inquiry
Chief medical officer for England says ministers caused confusion by even debating the idea
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2023 at 8:33 AM
Communication at all levels must be clear and this doesn’t seem to be the case (not pointing fingers). this also raises importance of transparency with public too which was why independent SAGE was established- to listen to and talk with the public directly. Full link to article pic taken from here