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Open research questions in Infection Control and Ventilation

83 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 647 Infection Control and Ventilation papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The combined effects of dynamic factors like fluctuating occupancy levels and real-time changes in pollutant sources should be considered in future studies. The impact of temperature profile on CO2 stratification should be investigated. Studies on varied architectural configurations, particularly in spaces with non-standard ceiling heights, complex geometries, or high occupant density, are needed.

    The Synergy of Ventilation System Layouts and Occupant Arrangements on Ventilation Effectiveness: A Case Study in a Shared Office · 2025 · DOI

  • Population-level quanta generation rate profiles, quantifying infectious particle emissions, are vital for assessing airborne infection risk but are poorly characterized.

    Influenza A (H1N1) and SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Airplanes: Quanta Profiles and Infection Control · 2026 · DOI

  • Previous studies have primarily considered static occupancy schemes, leaving a gap in understanding how dynamic patterns of use interact with ventilation design.

    The Synergy of Ventilation System Layouts and Occupant Arrangements on Ventilation Effectiveness: A Case Study in a Shared Office · 2025 · DOI

  • The most significant contributor to variability between studies was poorly defined initial viable virus concentration in the aerosol phase, causing many studies to not measure the rapid inactivation, which occurs quickly after particle generation, leading to conflicting results.

    Toward Standardized Aerovirology: A Critical Review of Existing Results and Methodologies · 2024 · DOI

  • It remains poorly understood how SARS-CoV-2 infection influences the physiological host factors important for aerosol transmission.

    Host and viral determinants of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Syrian hamster · 2024 · DOI

  • Little is known, however, about the morbidity and mortality of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections for hospitalized patients in the Omicron era.

    Morbidity and Mortality of Hospital-Onset SARS-CoV-2 Infections Due to Omicron Versus Prior Variants · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies on the preparedness of nurses against COVID-19 in Lebanon. The impact of the outbreak on nurses and their attitude towards the pandemic is not well understood.

    The Assessment of Lebanese Hospital Nurses’ Qualifications in The Fight Against COVID-19: Are They Well Prepared? · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was conducted through an online survey therefore only nurses who had access to it were able to complete it. Also, since the data are based on self-reported responses, there might be information and recall bias. Since the study is cross-sectional, we cannot conclude any direct causality between dependent and independent variables. More specifically, our survey only addressed some aspects of knowledge, practice and attitudes; we therefore didn’t assess the reasons behind nurses’ will to quit or take unpaid leaves.

    The Assessment of Lebanese Hospital Nurses’ Qualifications in The Fight Against COVID-19: Are They Well Prepared? · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited knowledge and poor risk perception of MERS-CoV among health care workers. Inadequate infection prevention practices, such as PPE use. Limited resources and infrastructure in health care settings.

    Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Risk Perception of MERS-CoV and Other Coronaviruses Among Health Care Workers in Northern Kenya · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of knowledge and poor risk perception of MERS-CoV among health care workers in Northern Kenya. There is a need for proactive preparedness strategies in resource-limited settings to prevent MERS-CoV transmission.

    Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Risk Perception of MERS-CoV and Other Coronaviruses Among Health Care Workers in Northern Kenya · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity of modeling the dose-dependency of immunity and exposure. The lack of quantitative details on the trade-off between immunity and exposure. The need to develop refined models to capture full variant dynamics.

    Epidemiological impacts of nonpharmaceutical interventions are modulated by immunity exposure trade offs · 2026 · DOI

  • The autopsy suite is an environment where exposure to infectious agents is inevitable. Resource limitations and cultural and attitudinal factors can contribute to inconsistent supply of high-quality PPE and appropriate disinfectants. There is a lack of recognition of the risks of infection in autopsy and mortuary settings.

    Occupational infection risks and infection prevention gaps in autopsy and mortuary practice: a narrative review and public health recommendations · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of recognition of the risks of infection in autopsy and mortuary settings. Infection control gaps exist across mortuary workflow, staff practices, and environmental disinfection.

    Occupational infection risks and infection prevention gaps in autopsy and mortuary practice: a narrative review and public health recommendations · 2026 · DOI

  • Reducing door-to-doctor contact time and ED LOS during pandemics. Improving ED workflows to reduce the risk of transmission. Identifying effective strategies to prepare for future pandemics.

    Impact of negative-pressure room utilization in the emergency department on hospitalized pneumonia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies investigating the impact of negative-pressure room utilization on pneumonia patient outcomes. There is a need to identify areas for improvement in ED workflows during pandemics.

    Impact of negative-pressure room utilization in the emergency department on hospitalized pneumonia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand · 2026 · DOI

  • for improvement DISCUSSION The findings of this study reveal a significant transition toward in Nasarawa State’s immunization program, alongside persistent operational sustainable energy and human resource challenges that threaten vaccine potency. A major strength identified is the widespread adoption of renewable energy, with 82.3% of primary healthcare facilities utilizing solar power as their primary energy source. This shift, supported by international International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | June 2026 | Vol 13 | Issue 6 Page 2692 Ifezulike MA et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2026 Jun;13(6):2689-2694 partners like Gavi and UNICEF, represents a critical advancement in overcoming the historical barrier of unreliable national grid electricity in Nigeria. This high rate of solarization in Nasarawa consistent with findings reported by Kamala in Tanzania where equipment targeted regional improved through availability has assessments.1 However, in contrast to this modernization, the data shows a resilience gap, where 41.5% of facilities still face daily power outages and 38.8% lack any backup power systems. This mirrors challenges identified by To et al. (2019) in Osun State where logistics management infrastructure pushes.2 deficiencies persisted despite Furthermore, fridge solar observation temperatures rise to +10°C or +11°C during low sunlight aligns with findings by Falcón et al (2020) in Mexico where environmental factors frequently caused excursions outside the required +2°C to +8°C recommended range.17 that the of standard facilities systemic weaknesses A critical finding is the stark disconnect between the availability of guidelines and staff capacity. While 81.0% of operating had procedures available, 50.3% healthcare workers reported never attending formal cold chain management training. This high rate of untrained personnel is in alignment with identified by Dairo and Osizimete (2016) in Ibadan where provider practices were found to be more critical than equipment availability.16 This also mirrors the operational risks documented by Sow et al (2018) in Burkina Faso where to procedural knowledge did not always effective the optimism expressed by Sasetu et al (2023) regarding the acceptability of peer learning in Nasarawa.21 This study suggests that informal support cannot replace formal capacity-building, as half remains untrained in core protocols. translate temperature monitoring.4 In contrast to the workforce to the failed the study. This confirms Equipment maintenance remains a severe weakness, with only 55.1% of refrigerators serviced in the three months findings prior (2020) in Oyo State where of Babatunde et al infrastructure expansion alone to guarantee effective control under routine conditions.14 The 22.4% non-functionality rate forces health workers to incur outof-pocket expenditures for vaccine transport, a barrier that the more generalized system weaknesses cited by Burstein et al (2013) in their multicountry African study.5 Ultimately, the benefits of renewable energy are being lost due to a lack of human resource capacity and technical oversight. To secure the gains made in infrastructure, Nasarawa State must prioritize regular supportive supervision and systematic maintenance schedules to ensure vaccines remain potent from storage to administration. in contrast to is The implications of these findings for vaccine potency and public health are substantial.

    Health system determinants of vaccine cold chain performance at the primary healthcare facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria: a mixed-methods study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies should investigate the impact of mask-wearing on respiratory tract infections. Studies should assess the effectiveness of public education campaigns on mask use. Research should explore the role of socioeconomic factors in determining knowledge and attitudes towards mask use.

    Post-COVID-19 mask use for respiratory infections: knowledge, attitudes, practices, and observations from a tertiary care outpatient setting in central Sri Lanka · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the impact of mask-wearing on respiratory tract infections. There is a need to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to mask-wearing in different populations.

    Post-COVID-19 mask use for respiratory infections: knowledge, attitudes, practices, and observations from a tertiary care outpatient setting in central Sri Lanka · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of patterns of compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures in Armenia. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to facilitate uptake of multiple behaviors in specific socio-demographic groups.

    Patterns of compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures in Armenia: results from a cross-sectional survey · 2026 · DOI

  • The review identified gaps in the protection of healthcare workers, including insufficient access to PPE and low adherence to WHO guidelines for mask use. The review also highlighted the importance of infection prevention and control training for HCWs.

    Infection Prevention and Control among Polish Healthcare Workers during COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Readiness and Resource Gaps · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity and heterogeneity of the evidence base make it challenging for reviewers to synthesise the evidence - The lack of dedicated funding for systematic reviews can limit the quality of the reviews - The use of risk-of-bias tools can be problematic when the evidence is complex and heterogeneous

    Synthesis challenges in complex evidence: A critical analysis of systematic reviews of face mask efficacy · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was limited to a desk research approach and did not require research ethics approval - The study may have overestimated author expertise due to not taking account of the quality of the authors' previous empirical research

    Synthesis challenges in complex evidence: A critical analysis of systematic reviews of face mask efficacy · 2026 · DOI

  • The study aims to investigate the effect of wearing a mask on blood pressure, cell size, and expected outcomes, which has not been fully explored in previous research.

    Assessment of HCT Levels in the Blood of Hospital Staff Wearing Masks · 2026 · DOI

  • The study is limited by the availability of datasets for FY2017-FY2023. The researchers note that the operational issues in national complaint statistics may constrain the reproducibility and utility of the findings. The study is also limited by the small sample size of municipalities interviewed.

    Comparative Trends in Complaint Counts for Offensive Odor, Noise, and Air Pollution Before and During/After COVID-19, and Operational Issues in Complaint Statistics · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on complaint counts for offensive odor, noise, and air pollution. The operational issues in national complaint statistics.

    Comparative Trends in Complaint Counts for Offensive Odor, Noise, and Air Pollution Before and During/After COVID-19, and Operational Issues in Complaint Statistics · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Infection Control and Ventilation

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83 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 647 Infection Control and Ventilation papers in our 4.5M-paper local library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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