Implications of design on infection prevention and control practice in a novel hospital unit: the Medical Ward of the 21st Century
2015
Anthropology & Medicine
Journal Article
Author(s): VanSteelandt, A., Conly, J., Ghali, W., Mather, C.
The design of a hospital has an important role to play in the prevention and control of infections in hospitals, as does healthcare worker compliance with preventive measures of infection control. Evidence has shown that single-patient rooms are more effective in the control of infection than multi-patient rooms. This study examined the relationship between the design of a hospital unit and the practice of infection control.
Added June 2015
Infection Control in Design and Construction Work
2015
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 8
Pages 68-79
Author(s): Collinge, W. H.
Added May 2015
Finishes and Furnishings: Considerations for Critical Care Environments
2011
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 34
Pages 317-331
Author(s): Chambers, M., Bowman, K. L.
Finishes and furnishings play an important role in the healing environment and do affect patient health outcomes, staff satisfaction, operational efficiency, and costs. It is important to create properly designed critical care units. Involving healthcare providers in the design process is necessary to highlight the user’s perspective, preferences, choices, and comfort versus safety.
Added May 2015
Evidence-based design in an intensive care unit: End-user perceptions
2015
BMC Anesthesiology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 15
Pages 57
Author(s): Ferri, M., Zygun, D. A., Harrison, A., Stelfox, H. T.
Authors consider evidence-based design (EBD) to be particularly relevant in the case of intensive care units (ICUs) given the high acuity of the patients and the multidisciplinary model of care. This qualitative study describes the experiences of end-users of an ICU designed using EBD principles in Calgary, Canada.
Added May 2015
The role of the surface environment in healthcare-associated infections:
2013
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 26
Pages 338-344
Author(s): Weber, D. J., Anderson, D., Rutala, W. A.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are associated with morbidity and mortality in hospitals in the USA. Sources and transmission of contamination can be several. Contamination of hospital surfaces is a common occurrence.
Added April 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
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
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
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
Environmental Interventions to Control Clostridium difficile
2015
Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 29
Pages 83-91
Author(s): Loo, V. G.
Clostridium difficile, the strain behind C difficile infection (CDI), has been identified as the leading cause behind healthcare-associated diarrhea.
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
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
Effectiveness of an audible reminder on hand hygiene adherence
2012-05-01
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 40
Pages 320-323
Author(s): Fakhry, M., Hanna, G. B., Anderson, O., Holmes, A., Nathwani, D.
To reduce healthcare associated infections (HAIs), interventions, like alcohol-based hand rub, soap and water, training, education, workplace reminders, etc., have been introduced to increase hand hygiene compliance by healthcare workers. Visitors to hospitals may also spread infections, and it is imperative for them to be acquainted with and comply with hand hygiene during their visits.
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
Decline in incidence of Clostridium difficile infection after relocation to a new hospital building with single rooms
2011
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 79
Pages 93-94
Author(s): Heddema, E. R., van Benthem, B. H. B.
The authors report that the most common risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are age (≥65 years), comorbidities, and the use of antibiotics. They point out that it is a challenge to control the risk factors and that preventive measures have not been particularly helpful.
Added November 2014
Rapid Hospital Room Decontamination Using Ultraviolet (UV) Light with a Nanostructured UV-Reflective Wall Coating
2013
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 34
Pages 527-529
Author(s): Rutala, W. A., Gergen, M. F., Tande, B. M., Weber, D. J.
Added November 2014
Disinfectants used for environmental disinfection and new room decontamination technology
2013
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 41
Pages S36-S41
Author(s): Rutala, W. A., Weber, D. J.
Added November 2014
