405 nm light technology for the inactivation of pathogens and its potential role for environmental disinfection and infection control
2014
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 88
Pages 1-11
Author(s): Maclean, M., McKenzie, K., Anderson, J. G., Gettinby, G., MacGregor, S. J.
Added October 2019
Long-term efficacy of a self-disinfecting coating in an intensive care unit
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 42
Pages 1178-1181
Author(s): Tamimi, A. H., Carlino, S., Gerba, C. P.
Intensive care units (ICUs) provide care to patient popIntensive care units (ICUs) provide care to patient populations that are often particularly vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), leading researchers and designers alike to investigate how the surfaces of objects can be treated to reduce the presence of HAI-causing organisms.
Added May 2018
Persistence of nosocomial bacteria on 2 biocidal fabrics based on silver under conditions of high relative humidity
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 42
Pages 879-884
Author(s): López-Gigosos, R., Mariscal, A., Gutierrez-Bedmar, M., Mariscal-Lopez, E., Fernández-Crehuet, J.
Added May 2016
Nebraska Biocontainment Unit perspective on disposal of Ebola medical waste
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 42
Pages 1256-1257
Author(s): Lowe, J. J., Gibbs, S. G., Schwedhelm, S. S., Nguyen, J., Smith, P. W.
Added May 2016
Comparison between mixed and laminar airflow systems in operating rooms and the influence of human factors: Experiences from a Swedish orthopedic center
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 42
Pages 665-669
Author(s): Erichsen Andersson, A., Petzold, M., Bergh, I., Karlsson, J., Eriksson, B. I., Nilsson, K.
Added May 2016
Effectiveness of improved hydrogen peroxide in decontaminating privacy curtains contaminated with multidrug-resistant pathogens
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 42
Pages 426-428
Author(s): Rutala, W. A., Gergen, M. F., Sickbert-Bennett, E. E., Williams, D. A., Weber, D. J.
Added January 2016
Preparing an ICU room to welcome a critically ill patient with Ebola virus disease
2014
Intensive Care Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 41
Pages 118-119
Author(s): Pasquier, P., Ficko, C., Mérens, A., Dubost, C.
Ebola virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever that spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected animal or human. Contamination may also occur through contact with items that were recently contacted by infected bodily fluids. No spread of the disease through the air has been documented. As no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus is currently available, specially coordinated medical services are necessary to control outbreaks.
Added December 2015
Persistence of microorganisms on common hospital surfaces
2014
Infection Control Resource
Journal Article
Author(s): Neely, A. N.
Added December 2015
Barriers to Infection Control due to Hospital Patient Room Factors A Secondary Analysis of Focus Group and Interview Transcripts
2014
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 58
Pages 1266-1270
Author(s): Patterson, E. S., Murray, J., Park, S., Sanders, E. B.-N., Li, J., Umar, R., Sommerich, C. M., Evans, K. D., Lavender, S. A.
Added November 2015
Viral contamination of aerosol and surfaces through toilet use in health care and other settings
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 42
Pages 758-762
Author(s): Verani, M., Bigazzi, R., Carducci, A.
Aerosol and surface contamination are significant to the transmission of viral infections in hospitals. The contamination of surfaces like door handles, toys, banisters, fabrics, flushing handles on toilets, etc., can occur through direct contact with an infected material or indirectly through unwashed hands or settling down of large aerosol droplets.
Added September 2015
Environmental viral contamination in a pediatric hospital outpatient waiting area: Implications for infection control
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 42
Pages 856-860
Author(s): D'Arcy, N., Cloutman-Green, E., Klein, N., Spratt, D. A.
Many viruses found in the healthcare environment are known to survive for long periods of time on inanimate objects or in the air. Pediatric healthcare environments are particularly susceptible to viral infections. Alluding to other studies where work surfaces, doors, and other touch surfaces were shown to be contaminated by virus, this study aims to find out if common touch sites in a pediatric healthcare environment can be contaminated with potentially infectious viruses.
Added September 2015
Exploring Safety and Quality In a Hemodialysis Environment With Participatory Photographic Methods: A Restorative Approach.
2014
Nephrology Nursing Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 41
Pages 25-36
Author(s): Marck, P., Molzahn, A., Berry-Hauf, R., Hutchings, L. G., Hughes, S.
The authors indicate that hemodialysis units can be fraught with numerous safety issues related to medication errors, lapses in communication, patient falls, equipment issues, infection control, etc. These issues can be critical in high-acuity units. This study used qualitative methods to identify existing and potential safety issues in a hemodialysis unit in a tertiary care hospital in Canada.
Added September 2015
Exploring Perceptions of Designers and Medical Staff in South Korea about Design Elements for the Elder-Friendly Hospital
2014
Journal of Interior Design
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 39
Pages 15-32
Author(s): Kim, D., Lee, J. H., Ha, M.
The elderly population is growing around the world and so is the geriatric patient population. The authors indicate that despite the fact that the elderly will soon be the primary users of healthcare services, healthcare facilities are not designed for the elderly. In this study, designers and medical staff were asked to rate the importance of 33 design elements in the context of an elder-friendly hospital.
Added August 2015
A numerical investigation of vertical and horizontal laminar airflow ventilation in an operating room
2014
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Sadrizadeh, S., Holmberg, S., Tammelin, A.
Laminar airflow (LAF) ventilation or parallel distribution system is the most commonly-used ventilation system in operating rooms (ORs). There is, however, much uncertainty about better efficacy of vertical or down flow LAF and horizontal or lateral flow LAF in controlling infections in ORs.
Added March 2015
Hospital ward design and prevention of hospital-acquired infections: A prospective clinical trial
2014
The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 25
Pages 265-270
Author(s): Ellison, J., Southern, D., Holton, D., Henderson, E., Wallace, J., Faris, P., Ghali, W. A., Conly, J.
The authors note the growing recognition of the relevance of facility design as a significant factor contributing to patient safety. They point to several factors in the environment of a hospital that may be potentially conducive for the transmission of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), antibiotic-resistant organisms (AROs), in particular.
Added November 2014
Creating spaces in intensive care for safe communication: a video-reflexive ethnographic study
2014
BMJ Quality & Safety
Journal Article
Author(s): Hor, S.-Y., Iedema, R., Manias, E.
According to the authors, the design of the built environment is a relatively recent foray for patient safety research. They refer to different research studies that report that the physical environment of healthcare facilities affects patient safety.
Added November 2014
Reduction of healthcare-associated infections in a long-term care brain injury ward by replacing regular linens with biocidal copper oxide impregnated linens
2014
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Author(s): Lazary, A., Weinberg, I., Vatine, J.-J., Jefidoff, A., Bardenstein, R., Borkow, G., Ohana, N.
Due to its antibacterial, antiviral, and fungicidal properties, copper has been widely used for centuries as a biocide. Microorganisms resistant to copper are extremely rare. Recently, methods have been developed for embedding copper oxide particles into textile products, thereby giving them antimicrobial and anti-mite properties, and in some cases, advanced wound-healing abilities. Consumer products featuring copper oxide such as sheets, diapers, and pillowcases have been proven completely safe to humans through numerous studies, with no adverse health reactions on record.
Added November 2014
Field evaluation of a new point-of-use faucet filter for preventing exposure to Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in health care facilities
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 42
Pages 1193-1196
Author(s): Baron, J. L., Peters, T., Shafer, R., MacMurray, B., Stout, J. E.
Waterborne pathogens exist in hospital water distribution systems in spite of different disinfection methods and can potentially cause hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in patients. The authors refer to previous studies which indicated the ineffectiveness of disinfecting methods in the complete removal of Legionella pathogen from water fixtures. This, they emphasized, called for the use of additional interventions like point-of-use (POU) filters, especially for safeguarding high-risk patients.
Added November 2014
Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections through Hand Hygiene
2014
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 35
Pages 937-960
Author(s): Ellingson, K., Haas, J. P., Aiello, A. E., Kusek, L., Maragakis, L. L., Olmsted, R. N., Perencevich, E., Polgreen, P. M., Schweizer, M. L., Trexler, P., VanAmringe, M., Yokoe, D. S.
Added November 2014
Accuracy of a radiofrequency identification (RFID) badge system to monitor hand hygiene behavior during routine clinical activities
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 42
Pages 144-147
Author(s): Pineles, L. L., Morgan, D. J., Limper, H. M., Weber, S. G., Thom, K. A., Perencevich, E. N., Harris, A. D., Landon, E.
Added November 2014