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
Space to care and treat safely in acute hospitals: Recommendations from 1866 to 2008
2010
Applied Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 41
Pages 666-673
Author(s): Hignett, S., Lu, J.
Bed space, defined in this study as the area around an individual bed offering privacy either as a curtained or screened cubicle or a single room in a ward holding multiple occupants, is the most frequently repeated design envelope in an acute care hospital. Since patients, staff, visitors, and other people will occupy this space at one point or another for a variety of different purposes, a complex design challenge exists. In 1893, Florence Nightingale successfully argued for less cramped bedrooms and overall improvements in hospital designs.
Added December 2014
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
Operating room ventilation with laminar airflow shows no protective effect on the surgical site infection rate in orthopedic and abdominal surgery
2008
Annals of Surgery
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 248
Pages 695-700
Author(s): Brandt, C., Hott, U., Sohr, D., Daschner, F., Gastmeier, P., Rüden, H.
Operating rooms (ORs) in hospitals of different countries use ventilation systems to assist with the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). The authors cite literature to show that adequate evidence does not exist to support the use of expensive ventilation systems in preventing SSIs.
Added November 2014
Does a mobile laminar airflow screen reduce bacterial contamination in the operating room? A numerical study using computational fluid dynamics technique
2014
Patient Safety in Surgery
Journal Article
Author(s): Sadrizadeh, S., Tammelin, A., Nielsen, P. V., Holmberg, S.
Surgical-site infections (SSIs) can increase patient morbidity and mortality and extend hospitalization time. Operating room (OR) personnel are the main source of airborne bacteria; a person releases roughly 104 skin scales per minute while walking, 10% of which carry bacteria, although up to 12 times as many microorganisms may be discharged depending on the individual and situation. Bacteria in the OR might contaminate a surgical wound through contact with the air or through contaminated surgical instruments.
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
Impact of Isolation on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Scores: Is Isolation Isolating?
2012
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 33
Pages 513-516
Author(s): Vinski, J., Bertin, M., Sun, Z., Gordon, S. M., Bokar, D., Merlino, J., Fraser, T. G.
Added November 2014
Association between healthcare water systems and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections: A rapid systematic review
2014
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 86
Pages 7-15
Author(s): Loveday, H. P., Wilson, J. A., Kerr, K., Pitchers, R., Walker, J. T., Browne, J.
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
Antimicrobial activity of copper against organisms in aqueous solution: A case for copper-based water pipelines in hospitals?
2013
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 41
Pages e115-e118
Author(s): Cervantes, H. I., Álvarez, J. A., Muñoz, J. M., Arreguín, V., Mosqueda, J. L., Macías, A. E.
Poor quality of water is significantly associated, according to the authors, with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and this is particularly problematic in developing countries. Literature indicates that patients in developing countries often become infected with waterborne diseases during hospital stays, and ensuing fatalities are not uncommon.
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
Self-disinfecting surfaces: Review of current methodologies and future prospects
2013
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5, Supplement
Volume 41
Pages S31-S35
Author(s): Weber, D. J., Rutala, W. A.
Added November 2014
