Improved Indoor Air Quality as a Critical Component of Infection Prevention in Hospitals

Indoor air quality management is a preventive health measure

Hospitals are supposed to heal - but they can also be environments where infections spread. This is especially true in high-occupancy, continuously air-conditioned healthcare facilities common across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and MENA region.

In such settings, indoor air quality (IAQ) isn’t a comfort issue: it’s a critical clinical and public health concern that impacts patient outcomes, staff well-being, and the resilience of healthcare systems.

The GCC & MENA: Infection Prevention in Hospitals & Risk Landscape

Recent regional research reveals that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant challenge in acute care settings. A multi-centre point-prevalence survey across seven Middle Eastern countries - including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain - found that 11.2% of patients in acute hospitals had healthcare-associated infections on the day of the survey.

Meanwhile, national infection control guidance within the GCC (e.g., Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health surveillance manuals) notes that between 5% and 15% of patients in healthcare facilities may acquire infections while receiving care.

These infections are often caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which are more difficult to treat and can lead to longer hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality, and higher healthcare costs.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters

Up to 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted through direct contact, indirect contact, or airborne exposure - and indoor air is a continuous exposure pathway. Poor IAQ in hospitals can:

• Facilitate the spread of airborne pathogens

• Increase exposure to bacteria, mould and bioaerosols

• Impact patient recovery and staff health

• Increase absenteeism and operational strain

In regions where mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning are essential due to heat and humidity, improperly managed indoor air can undermine traditional infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols.

The GCC Healthcare Context

Healthcare facilities in the GCC and broader MENA region typically feature:

• High patient throughput and extended occupancy

• Continuous mechanical ventilation due to extreme climate

• National priorities on patient safety, efficiency, and sustainability

Improving IAQ aligns with broader public health strategies, energy goals, and quality-of-care outcomes - especially when airborne spread is a key driver of HAIs.

Policy Considerations for Ministries of Health

To address these risks, health authorities might consider:

• Integrating IAQ performance requirements into the design and retrofit standards for hospitals

• Recognising indoor air quality management as a preventive health measure

• Supporting independently tested IAQ technologies that improve air quality without increasing energy or operational burdens

• Aligning IAQ initiatives with national sustainability and Net Zero objectives

  
  

Conclusion: Prevention Starts with Better Air

Hospital-acquired infections remain a persistent threat, particularly when surveillance and prevention measures are inadequate. With documented HAI prevalence in GCC healthcare settings and the known mechanisms of airborne transmission, improving indoor air quality is a practical, evidence-based intervention to reduce risk, protect healthcare workers, and improve patient outcomes.

Prevention is still the most effective tool in public healthcare - and in warm, dense, and continuously conditioned healthcare environments, clean air must be part of the solution.