This article outlines the relationship between select design elements and the pervasive problem of healthcare-acquired infections.
Several current sources were reviewed to inform this state-of-the-science paper.
Current information related to the impact of select design elements on hospital-acquired infections was categorized into the three areas of surfaces, management of airflow, and water. Each area was addressed with respect to multi-drug-resistant organisms and traditional vs. innovative cleaning techniques.
The intersection of healthcare design and infection prevention is relatively new. While many new strategies are being developed, research is still needed to determine the efficacy of new methods and contribute to the evidence-based design knowledge base.
The author describes several innovative infection prevention measures and provides a strong reference list. No description is provided as to how the articles referenced in this article were selected.