Safety, Performance, and Satisfaction Outcomes in the Operating Room: A Literature Review
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 11
Pages 137-150
Author(s): Joseph, A., Bayramzadeh, S., Zamani, Z., Rostenberg, B.
There are many operating rooms (ORs) constructed more than 30 years ago that remain operational today, and many of these spaces are inadequately designed to withstand the processes, equipment, and people needed for contemporary OR procedures. Even in developed countries, patients undergoing inpatient surgeries experience major complications 3-22% of the time.
Added February 2018
Deposition of Bacteria and Bacterial Spores by Bathroom Hot Air Hand Dryers
2018
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 84
Pages 1-11
Author(s): del Carmen Huesca-Espitia, L., Aslanzadeh, J., Feinn, R., Joseph, G., Murray, T. S., Setlow, P.
Human skin is covered in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic flora, which can be transmitted from surface to surface in a way that may or may not be associated with nosocomial infection. The transmission of microorganisms within healthcare environments presents the possibility of nosocomial infection, especially in the cases of Staphylococcus aureus, enterocci, Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, and Acinetobacter spp.
Added February 2018
The Role of Environmental Design in Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survivorship: A Systematic Literature Review
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 11
Pages 18–32
Author(s): Gharaveis, A., Kazem-Zadeh, M.
Approximately 1.6 million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. New techniques for treating cancer are constantly being developed, with many healthcare professionals and designers turning towards more patient-centered services and designs to achieve better patient outcomes.
Added February 2018
Extensive severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus contamination in surrounding environment in patient’ rooms
2018
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 24
Pages 911.e1–911.e4
Author(s): Ryu, B.-H., Kim, J. Y., Kim, T., Kim, M.-C., Kim, Min Jae, Chong, Y.-P., Lee, S.-O., Choi, S.-H., Kim, Y. S., Woo, J. H., Kim, S.-H.
Added February 2018
Pilot study to determine whether microbial contamination levels in hospital washrooms are associated with hand-drying method
2017
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 97
Pages 201-203
Author(s): Wilcox, M. H., Best, E. L., Parnell, P.
Added January 2018
Assessment of the bacterial contamination of hand air dryer in washrooms
2016
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 23
Pages 268-271
Author(s): Alharbi, S. A., Salmen, S. H., Chinnathambi, A., Alharbi, N. S., Zayed, M. E., Al-Johny, B. O., Wainwright, M.
Hand hygiene is an essential factor in mitigating the spread of infection, and previous studies indicate that wet hands have the potential to spread up to 1000 times more bacteria than dry hands. This underscores why hand drying methods are frequently researched and debated; there are conflicting findings concerning whether or not hand air dryers spread trace amounts of microorganisms through the air, or are generally more or less effective than drying with paper towels.
Added January 2018
Microbiological comparison of hand-drying methods: the potential for contamination of the environment, user, and bystander
2014
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 88
Pages 199-206
Author(s): Best, E. L., Parnell, P., Wilcox, M. H.
Added January 2018
Comparison of different hand-drying methods: the potential for airborne microbe dispersal and contamination
2015
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 89
Pages 215-217
Author(s): Best, E. L., Redway, K.
Added January 2018
Self-disinfecting surfaces and activity against Staphyloccocus aureus ATCC 6538 under real-life conditions
2017
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 97
Pages 196-199
Author(s): Brühwasser, C., Heinrich, H., Lass-Flörl, C., Mayr, A.
Added January 2018
Examining the association between surface bioburden and frequently touched sites in intensive care
2017
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 95
Pages 76-80
Author(s): Adams, C. E., Smith, J., Watson, V., Robertson, C., Dancer, S. J.
Added January 2018
Contamination of hospital tap water: the survival and persistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on conventional and ‘antimicrobial’ outlet fittings
2017
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 97
Pages 156-161
Author(s): Hutchins, C. F., Moore, G., Thompson, K. -A., Webb, J., Walker, J. T.
Added January 2018
Temperature-controlled airflow ventilation in operating rooms compared with laminar airflow and turbulent mixed airflow
2017
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 98
Pages 181-190
Author(s): Alsved, M., Civilis, A., Ekolind, P., Tammelin, A., Andersson, A. Erichsen, Jakobsson, J., Svensson, T., Ramstorp, M., Sadrizadeh, S., Larsson, P-A., Bohgard, M., Šantl-Temkiv, T., Löndahl, J.
Maintaining a low concentration of bacteria within operating room (OR) air is a widely accepted solution to preventing surgical site infections (SSI). As bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics, researchers and designers are working to improve OR ventilation systems in order to decrease SSI. The usual types of ventilation systems employed to mitigate SSI in ORs are laminar airflow (LAF) and turbulent mixed airflow (TMA) systems. However, there is a lack of available research to help designers make informed decisions about which systems to use in specific contexts. A new ventilation system, temperature-controlled airflow (TCAF), also needs further analysis.
Added January 2018
Impact of moving to a new hospital build, with a high proportion of single rooms, on healthcare-associated infections and outbreaks
2017
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Author(s): Darley, E. S. R., Vasant, J., Leeming, J., Hammond, F., Matthews, S., Albur, M., Reynolds, R.
Added January 2018
Could we predict airborne Aspergillus contamination during construction work?
2017
American Journal Of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 45
Pages 39-41
Author(s): Pilmis, B., Thepot-Seegers, V., Angebault, C., Weiss, E., Alaabouche, I., Bougnoux, M.-E., Zahar, J.-R.
Hospital infections during construction work are common due to airborne pathogens. A major contributor is Aspergillus, which spreads from the outdoors during demolition and construction.
Added December 2017
Decrease in Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Colonization After Extensive Renovation of a Unit Dedicated to the Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies and Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation
2017
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 38
Pages 1055-1061
Author(s): Ford, C. D., Gazdik Stofer, M. A., Coombs, J., Lopansri, B. K., Webb, B. J., Motyckova, G., Petersen, F. B.
Added December 2017
Seasonal variation of window opening behaviors in two naturally ventilated hospital wards
2018
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Shi, Z., Qian, H., Zheng, X., Lv, Z., Li, Y., Liu, L., Nielsen, P. V.
Natural ventilation is important in controlling indoor air temperature and quality. According to the authors, airborne infections can be reduced in hospitals among patients and staff when natural cross ventilation is used.
Added December 2017
Association Between Hospital-Onset Clostridium difficile infection and Admission to a Multi-Bed Room: A Case–control Study
2017
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Issue Suppl 1
Volume 4
Pages S400
Author(s): Vaisman, A., Jula, M., Wagner, J., Winston, L. G.
Added December 2017
Role of Viral Bioaerosols in Nosocomial Infections and Measures for Prevention and Control
2017
Journal of Aerosol Science
Journal Article
Author(s): Bing-Yuan, Zhang, Y.-H., Leung, N. H. L., Cowling, B. J., Yang, Z.-F.
Added December 2017
The Impact of Environmental Design on Doffing Personal Protective Equipment in a Healthcare Environment: A Formative Human Factors Trial
2017
Infection Control And Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 38
Pages 712-717
Author(s): Herlihey, T. A., Gelmi, S., Cafazzo, J. A., Hall, T. N. T.
Added November 2017
Impact of single room design on the spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria in an intensive care unit
2017
Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Halaby, T., al Naiemi, N., Beishuizen, B., Verkooijen, R., Ferreira, J. A., Klont, R., vandenbroucke-Grauls, C.
Previous studies have explored how intensive care units (ICUs) can foster cross-contamination of hospital-borne pathogens, and how isolating contaminated patients, coupled with the promotion of hand hygiene procedures, can mitigate the frequency of these contaminations. Various environmental factors, frequent invasive procedures, and instances of under-staffing have been identified as causes for higher levels of cross-contamination in ICUs. Further research is needed to explore whether or not the use of single-patient rooms themselves can help mitigate cross-contamination in an ICU. Through a retrospective study, the authors of this paper explore the long-term persistence of multi-drug-resistant gram-negative (MDR-GN) organisms within an ICU, even while extensive infection control precautions were place.
Added November 2017
