A Lean Six Sigma Team Increases Hand Hygiene Compliance and Reduces Hospital-Acquired MRSA Infections by 51%
2010
Journal for Healthcare Quality
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 32
Pages 61-70
Author(s): Carboneau, C., Aizen, E., Jaco, M. T., Robinson, M.
Added April 2015
The Direct Medical Costs of Healthcare-associated Infections in U.S. Hospitals and the Benefits of Prevention
Author(s): Scott, R. D., II
Added April 2015
Impact of daylight illumination on reducing patient length of stay in hospital after coronary artery bypass graft surgery
2013
Lighting Research and Technology
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 45
Pages 435-449
Author(s): Joarder, A. R., Price, A. D. F.
Array
Added March 2015
Measurement of ventilation and airborne infection risk in large naturally ventilated hospital wards
2013
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Gilkeson, C. A., Camargo-Valero, M. A., Pickin, L. E., Noakes, C. J.
In healthcare environments, the transmission of airborne pathogens is a matter of concern. Ventilation has been identified as one of the key factors in the risk of infection. The authors indicate that most of the evidence on ventilation and infection risk has been in controlled spaces like operating rooms and isolation rooms, and that naturally ventilated spaces like wards have not been studied. They conducted a series of experiments in an unused ward to measure the transmission of pathogens in conditions of natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation, and no ventilation.
Added March 2015
HVAC filtration for controlling infectious airborne disease transmission in indoor environments: Predicting risk reductions and operational costs
2013
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Azimi, P., Stephens, B.
The airborne transmission of infectious pathogens in indoor environments is a matter of concern. The authors refer to different operational and design strategies being used in different buildings to control/limit the spread of these pathogens.
Added March 2015
The influence of human walking on the flow and airborne transmission in a six-bed isolation room: Tracer gas simulation
2014
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Hang, J., Li, Y., Jin, R.
The authors allude to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS and influenza in hospital wards to emphasize the need to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-infected patients. According to the authors, literature indicates that movement of HCWs in hospital wards contributes to the transmission of airborne contaminants. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the movement of a HCW in an isolation ward and its impact on airborne transmission.
Added March 2015
Healing environment: A review of the impact of physical environmental factors on users
2012
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Huisman, E. R. C. M., Morales, E., van Hoof, J., Kort, H. S. M.
According to the authors, research that examines the physical environment and its impact on the healing and well-being of human beings has been growing in the last several years. There is increasing availability of literature on evidence-based design.
Added March 2015
Efforts To Improve Patient Safety Result in 1.3 Million Fewer Patient Harms
Author(s): AHRQ
Added March 2015
Patient Safety in the Cardiac Operating Room: Human Factors and Teamwork A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
2013
Circulation
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 128
Pages 1139-1169
Author(s): Wahr, J. A., Prager, R. L., Abernathy, J. H., Martinez, E. A., Salas, E., Seifert, P. C., Groom, R. C., Spiess, B. D., Searles, B. E., Sundt, T. M., Sanchez, J. A., Shappell, S. A., Culig, M. H., Lazzara, E. H., Fitzgerald, D. C., Thourani, V. H., Eghtesady, P., Ikonomidis, J. S., England, M. R., Sellke, F. W., Nussmeier, N. A.
The cardiac surgical operating room is a complex environment, where patient lives are saved or considerably improved with the help of sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Although outcomes are improving, adverse events still occur, many of which are preventable. This statement is the result of a review of literature that presented evidence on patient safety and interventions that worked in enhancing patient safety in the cardiac OR.
Added March 2015
CMS Changes in Reimbursement for HAIs
2010-5
Medical care
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 48
Pages 433-439
Author(s): Stone, P. W., Glied, S. A., McNair, P. D., Matthes, N., Cohen, B., Landers, T. F., Larson, E. L.
Added March 2015
Medicare’s Policy Not To Pay For Treating Hospital-Acquired Conditions: The Impact
2009
Health Affairs
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 28
Pages 1485-1493
Author(s): McNair, P. D., Luft, H. S., Bindman, A. B.
Added March 2015
Infection acquisition following intensive care unit room privatization
2011
Archives of Internal Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 171
Pages 32-38
Author(s): Teltsch, D. Y., Hanley, J., Loo, V., Goldberg, P., Gursahaney, A., Buckeridge, D. L.
The authors state that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect about 30% of patients in intensive care units (ICUs), subsequently affecting patient outcomes. Although single-patient rooms are recommended by the Facilities Guidelines Institute, the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the authors indicate that studies on the effect of the single-bed room on rates of infection have been inconclusive.
Added February 2015
Numerical investigation of different airflow schemes in a real operating theatre
2015
Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering
Journal Article
Issue 02
Volume 8
Pages 73-89
Author(s): Balocco, C., Petrone, G., Cammarata, G.
Efficiency of a ventilation system in providing an effective airflow that contributes to the removal of contaminants (pathogens, anesthetic gases, carbon dioxide, etc.) is crucial to alleviating the risk of surgical site infection, protecting patients and staff from infection, and in ensuring thermal comfort to the occupants in operating theatres (OTs).
Added February 2015
Method for Automated Monitoring of Hand Hygiene Adherence without Radio-Frequency Identification
2010
Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 31
Pages 1294-1297
Author(s): Polgreen, P. M., Hlady, C. S., Severson, M. A., Segre, A. M., Herman, T.
Added November 2014
Daily Disinfection of High-Touch Surfaces in Isolation Rooms to Reduce Contamination of Healthcare Workers’ Hands
2013
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 33
Pages 1039-1042
Author(s): Kundrapu, S., Sunkesula, V., Jury, L. A., Sitzlar, B. M., Donskey, C. J.
Added November 2014
Low Frequency of Fires From Alcohol‐Based Hand Rub Dispensers in Healthcare Facilities •
2003
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 24
Pages 618-619
Author(s): Boyce, J. M., Pearson, M. L.
Added November 2014
Do hospital visitors wash their hands? Assessing the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in a hospital lobby
2012
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 40
Pages 340-343
Author(s): Birnbach, D. J., Nevo, I., Barnes, S., Fitzpatrick, M., Rosen, L. F., Everett-Thomas, R., Sanko, J. S., Arheart, K. L.
Compliance with hand hygiene by healthcare workers is considered to be relevant to the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. There are no studies that indicate the significance of hand-hygient compliance (HHC) by hospital visitors, although both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that hospital visitors can potentially carry infections from the community into hospitals.
Added November 2014
Taking ergonomics to the bedside – A multi-disciplinary approach to designing safer healthcare
2014
Applied Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 45
Pages 629-638
Author(s): Norris, B., West, J., Anderson, O., Davey, G., Brodie, A.
Added November 2014
Recommended standards for newborn ICU design, eighth edition
2013
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Issue S1
Volume 33
Pages S2-S16
Author(s): White, R. D., Smith, J. A., Shepley, M. M.
Added November 2014
Assessing the optimal location for alcohol-based hand rub dispensers in a patient room in an intensive care unit
2013
BMC Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 13
Pages 510
Author(s): Boog, M. C., Erasmus, V., de Graaf, J. M., van Beeck, E. A. H. E., Melles, M, van Beeck, E. F.
The authors allude to literature which says that compliance of hand hygiene (which is crucial to reducing the spread of infectious disease) is low among healthcare workers (HCWs). Literature also shows that alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) improve hand-hygiene compliance by HCWs, which in turn is impacted by location, access to, and visibility of the ABHR dispenser.
Added November 2014
