Cluster-Randomized Trial of Air Filtration and Ventilation to Reduce Covid19 Spread in Homes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Investigators are evaluating whether an intervention consisting of box-fans with MERV 16 filters (filtration fans) and recommendations for improving ventilation in the home can reduce secondary spread of Covid19 from an index case to susceptible contacts within the home.

Official Title
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A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial of Air Filtration and Ventilation Improvements to Reduce SARS CoV 2 Transmission Among Household Contacts

Conditions
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Covid19

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Filtration Fan
* Behavioral: Safe-home pamphlet
* Behavioral: Mid-week phone call


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Household members live in a shared space (apartment, home) with others (as opposed to renting single rooms in a shared space, for example) At least 3 other people live in the household aside from index case Exclusion Criteria: If index case test positive day was over 2 days prior If half or more household members are thought to be infected already If household has fewer than 3 contacts interested in participating in the study If fewer than 3 contacts are expected to be present in the house for a majority of the following 7 days
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control<br>No intervention will be administered in this arm. Investigators will give families a CO2 monitor to measure average CO2 levels in the home. Investigators will provide a link to the basic CDC isolation guidelines which would be part of standard of care. Investigators will test family members at day 0-1 for baseline testing; and again on day 7 for assessing secondary transmission among susceptible contacts. | |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>Families are provided with one filtration fan unit per room in their home (and one for the index case; if the family lives in a studio, they would receive 2 units). Investigators will advise families on ventilation improvements in their home. Investigators will provide an instructional pamphlet that describes how the fans work and the importance of ventilation. Investigators will follow-up on day 3-4 to check in and run through a checklist to ensure the fans are working and ventilation improvements are being attempted. Investigators will give families a CO2 monitor to measure average CO2 levels in the home. Investigators will test family members at day 0-1 for baseline testing; and again on day 7 for assessing secondary transmission among susceptible contacts. | Device: Filtration Fan<br>* Investigators are using box fans with attached MERV16 filters, a design that has been tested and published in the scientific literature.<br>Behavioral: Safe-home pamphlet<br>* The pamphlet has information on how the filtration fans work through visual images; and images of ventilation improvements in the home through opening windows.<br>Behavioral: Mid-week phone call<br>* On day 3-4 of the study, the study coordinator assigned to the house will call and check in regarding the filtration fan usage and remind families about the importance of filtration and ventilation.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Incidence of Covid19 | Investigators will measure the incidence of Covid19 in susceptible contacts on day 7. | 7th day since enrollment in the trial | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Incidence of new upper respiratory symptoms | Investigators will measure reported new upper respiratory symptoms in susceptible contacts. | 7th day since enrollment in the trial | 
| Average CO2 levels | Investigators will measure 7 day average CO2 levels in the home (measured in parts per million) | 7 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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ventilation, air filtration, Covid19, SARS CoV 2, household transmission