Do high-touch surfaces in public spaces pose a risk for influenza transmission? A virologic study during the peak of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in Geneva, Switzerland
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 43
Pages 1372-1373
Author(s): von Braun, A., Thomas, Y., Sax, H.
Added January 2016
Preparing an ICU room to welcome a critically ill patient with Ebola virus disease
2014
Intensive Care Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 41
Pages 118-119
Author(s): Pasquier, P., Ficko, C., Mérens, A., Dubost, C.
Ebola virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever that spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected animal or human. Contamination may also occur through contact with items that were recently contacted by infected bodily fluids. No spread of the disease through the air has been documented. As no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus is currently available, specially coordinated medical services are necessary to control outbreaks.
Added December 2015
Modeling infection risk and energy use of upper-room Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation systems in multi-room environments
2015
Science and Technology for the Built Environment
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 21
Pages 99-111
Author(s): Noakes, C. J., Khan, M. A. I., Gilkeson, C. A.
Added December 2015
Measuring hand hygiene compliance rates at hospital entrances
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 43
Pages 694-696
Author(s): Vaidotas, M., Yokota, P. K. O., Marra, A. R., Sampaio Camargo, T. Z., Victor, E. da S., Gysi, D. M., Leal, F., dos Santos, O. F. P., Edmond, M. B.
Added December 2015
Environmental infection control considerations for Ebola
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 43
Pages 747-749
Author(s): Lowe, J. J., Olinger, P. L., Gibbs, S. G., Rengarajan, K., Beam, E. L., Boulter, K. C., Schwedhelm, M. M., Hayes, A. K., Kratochvil, C. J., Vanairsdale, S., Frislie, B., Lewis, J., Hewlett, A. L., Smith, P. W., Gartland, B., Ribner, B. S.
The impact of the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa was felt in the United States when patients were transferred for treatment. Following the first Ebola death in the U.S. and given the high risk factors associated with the disease, infection control and prevention measures were stepped up in hospitals around the country.
Added December 2015
Microfiber cloths reduce the transfer of Clostridium difficile spores to environmental surfaces compared with cotton cloths
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 43
Pages 686-689
Author(s): Trajtman, A. N., Manickam, K., Alfa, M. J.
Added December 2015
Role of healthcare apparel and other healthcare textiles in the transmission of pathogens: a review of the literature
2015
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 90
Pages 285-292
Author(s): Mitchell, A., Spencer, M., Edmiston, C.
Added December 2015
Persistence of microorganisms on common hospital surfaces
2014
Infection Control Resource
Journal Article
Author(s): Neely, A. N.
Added December 2015
Hospital management of Clostridium difficile infection: a review of the literature
2015
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 90
Pages 91-101
Author(s): Khanafer, N., Voirin, N., Barbut, F., Kuijper, E., Vanhems, P.
Added December 2015
Copper surfaces are associated with significantly lower concentrations of bacteria on selected surfaces within a pediatric intensive care unit
2016
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Schmidt, M. G., von Dessauer, B., Benavente, C., Benadof, D., Cifuentes, P., Elgueta, A., Duran, C., Navarrete, M. S.
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) plague hospitals around the world. The authors note that patients in ICUs, particularly those in pediatric and neonatal ICUs, are more susceptible to contract an infection from the clinical environment because of factors like the patient’s illness and the use of invasive medical devices, etc.
Added November 2015
Barriers to Infection Control due to Hospital Patient Room Factors A Secondary Analysis of Focus Group and Interview Transcripts
2014
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 58
Pages 1266-1270
Author(s): Patterson, E. S., Murray, J., Park, S., Sanders, E. B.-N., Li, J., Umar, R., Sommerich, C. M., Evans, K. D., Lavender, S. A.
Added November 2015
One size fits all? Mixed methods evaluation of the impact of 100% single-room accommodation on staff and patient experience, safety and costs
2015
BMJ Quality & Safety
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 25
Pages 241-256
Author(s): Maben, J., Griffiths, P., Penfold, C., Simon, M, Anderson, J. E., Robert, G., Pizzo, E., Hughes, J., Murrells, T., Barlow, J.
Authors indicate that despite the trend to adopt single-patient rooms, there is a dearth of strong evidence regarding its effect on healthcare quality and safety. When a hospital in England moved to a new building with 100% single rooms, a before-and-after move study was conducted on patient and staff experience, safety outcomes, and cost analysis. The study found that over two-thirds of the patients and one-fifth of the staff preferred single rooms.
Added September 2015
Viral contamination of aerosol and surfaces through toilet use in health care and other settings
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 42
Pages 758-762
Author(s): Verani, M., Bigazzi, R., Carducci, A.
Aerosol and surface contamination are significant to the transmission of viral infections in hospitals. The contamination of surfaces like door handles, toys, banisters, fabrics, flushing handles on toilets, etc., can occur through direct contact with an infected material or indirectly through unwashed hands or settling down of large aerosol droplets.
Added September 2015
Environmental viral contamination in a pediatric hospital outpatient waiting area: Implications for infection control
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 42
Pages 856-860
Author(s): D'Arcy, N., Cloutman-Green, E., Klein, N., Spratt, D. A.
Many viruses found in the healthcare environment are known to survive for long periods of time on inanimate objects or in the air. Pediatric healthcare environments are particularly susceptible to viral infections. Alluding to other studies where work surfaces, doors, and other touch surfaces were shown to be contaminated by virus, this study aims to find out if common touch sites in a pediatric healthcare environment can be contaminated with potentially infectious viruses.
Added September 2015
Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Negative-Pressure Isolation Rooms: Using the Balanced Scorecard Framework
2009
Journal of Architectural and Planning Research
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 26
Pages 1-13
Author(s): Wang, C.-H., Kuo, N.-W.
To combat the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) following an epidemic outbreak in Taiwan in early 2003, all hospitals were mandated by health authorities to convert their patient rooms into negative pressure isolation rooms. The authors believe that it is necessary to evaluate these rooms to ensure that they are functioning effectively.
Added September 2015
From Laboratory Research to a Clinical Trial: Copper Alloy Surfaces Kill Bacteria and Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
2015
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 9
Pages 64-79
Author(s): Michels, H. T., Keevil, C. W., Salgado, C. D., Schmidt, M. G.
Added September 2015
Health care–associated infection surveillance in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit: A prospective clinical study after moving to a new building
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 44
Pages 80-84
Author(s): Cura, C., Ozen, M., Kara, A. A., Alkan, G., Cetin, E. S.
Added September 2015
Exploring Safety and Quality In a Hemodialysis Environment With Participatory Photographic Methods: A Restorative Approach.
2014
Nephrology Nursing Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 41
Pages 25-36
Author(s): Marck, P., Molzahn, A., Berry-Hauf, R., Hutchings, L. G., Hughes, S.
The authors indicate that hemodialysis units can be fraught with numerous safety issues related to medication errors, lapses in communication, patient falls, equipment issues, infection control, etc. These issues can be critical in high-acuity units. This study used qualitative methods to identify existing and potential safety issues in a hemodialysis unit in a tertiary care hospital in Canada.
Added September 2015
Exploring Perceptions of Designers and Medical Staff in South Korea about Design Elements for the Elder-Friendly Hospital
2014
Journal of Interior Design
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 39
Pages 15-32
Author(s): Kim, D., Lee, J. H., Ha, M.
The elderly population is growing around the world and so is the geriatric patient population. The authors indicate that despite the fact that the elderly will soon be the primary users of healthcare services, healthcare facilities are not designed for the elderly. In this study, designers and medical staff were asked to rate the importance of 33 design elements in the context of an elder-friendly hospital.
Added August 2015
Impact of the Design of Neonatal Intensive Care Units on Neonates, Staff, and Families: A Systematic Literature Review
2012
The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 26
Pages 267-268
Author(s): Shahheidari, M., Homer, C.
The authors indicate that the design of NICUs incorporating single family rooms as evidence indicates this room type contributes to the better development of babies, facilitates increased parental involvement in care, controls infection, and reduces noise and length of stay.
Added July 2015
