Medical Air Technology designs and builds a specialist cleanroom for Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

Medical Air Technology (MAT) recently completed a complex cleanroom project at Malta's state-of-the-art national hospital. Mater Dei. Mater Dei is an acute general teaching hospital. offering hospital services and specialist services. One of these specialist services is a dedicated oncology centre, funded in part by an EU grant. and offering world-class treatment from a new purpose-built block.

MAT was brought in to work on a new cytotoxic dispensing aseptic suite within the oncology centre, designed for the preparation of cancer treatment medicines. This treatment is prescribed the physician and prepared by pharmacists trained in the aseptic handling of medicines. Such medicines. which are unique to each individual patient's needs, have a short shelf life due to microbiological issues. The new facility enables the safe aseptic preparation of treatment and its subsequent administration to the patient.

MAT was recommended to the main contractor following its work on containment laboratories for the bacteriology and pathology departments in the main hospital. Everything required for the build was shipped out from MAT's UK headquarters and assembled on-site by the local skilled workforce. MAT provided all the internal structure for the new aseptic suite, which was fully vinyled for an impervious finish.

This and other services, including BMS controls, air-handling systems and ductwork, were all necessary to establish and maintain European standards concerning aseptic preparation of such medicines. All areas are fully air conditioned via a new air handling plant. and filtered via new terminal HEPA filters. Air change rates were calculated to meet the specific design conditions required to achieve the recommended background criteria. The suite has one isolator, with provision for a second unit. and has been built to comply with current European cleanroom standards.