Efficacy of violet–blue light to inactive microbial growth
2022
Scientific Reports
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 12
Pages 20179
Author(s): Amodeo, D., Lucarelli, V., De Palma, I., Puccio, A., Nante, N., Cevenini, G., Messina, G.
Research demonstrates that certain lights have antimicrobial properties. Violet-blue light at 405 nm (VBL405) has a broad-spectrum effect on organisms that frequently cause hospital-acquired infections including Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and various Mycobacterium.
Added November 2022
Lean design of the pediatric intensive care unit patient room for efficient and safe care delivery
2022
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 15
Pages 369-390
Author(s): Lu, Y., Bishop, N. B., Zadeh, R. S.
Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are often operated by specially trained registered nurses (RNs). Due to the high stress and sensitivity of these environments, optimizing RN workflows and safety protocols is important.
Added August 2022
Responsiveness and adaptability of healthcare facilities in emergency scenarios: COVID-19 experience
2022
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 19
Pages 675
Author(s): Łukasik, M., Porębska, A.
COVID-19 exposed shortcomings in hospitals’ abilities to accommodate emergency scenarios with efficiency and preparedness. Prior research evaluates strategies for resilient hospitals, such as the use of architectural methods to reduce bacterial infection.
Added January 2022
Investigations of Staphylococcal contamination on environmental surfaces of a neonatal intensive care unit of a children's hospital
2021
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 49
Pages 1450-1453
Author(s): Keilman, R., Harding, S., Rowin, M., Reade, E., Klingborg, P., Levine, D., Spratt, H.
Staphylococcal, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), infections are pervasive in intensive care units (ICUs). However, little research focuses on areas of contamination within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), even though Staphylococci can cause severe infection in infants.
Added July 2021
Preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the emergency department by implementing a separate pathway for patients with respiratory conditions
2021
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 19
Pages 383-388
Author(s): Alqahtani, F., Alanazi, M., Alassaf, W., Aleanizy, F. S., Aljahany, M., Joseph, M., AlRaye, M.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare facilities have provided services to patients with suspected or confirmed cases of this and other highly contagious respiratory illnesses. In some areas, emergency departments (EDs) have become important resources for patient populations without other ways to access medical care.
Added June 2021
Evaluation of nosocomial infection control measures to minimize the risk of aspergillus dispersion during major demolition work: A case study of a Japanese university hospital
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 14
Pages 58-74
Author(s): Nakanishi, Y., Kasahara, K., Koizumi, A., Tokutani, J., Yoshihara, S., Mikasa, K., Imamura, T.
Aspergillus species (spp), can be dispersed during activities such as construction, renovation, and demolition. The infection control risk assessment (ICRA) tool was developed in part to counteract the spread of infection in these situations.
Added May 2021
Intensive care unit built environments: A comprehensive literature review (2005–2020)
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 14
Pages 368-415
Author(s): Verderber, S., Gray, S., Suresh-Kumar, S., Kercz, D., Parshuram, C.
ICUs have been extensively studied regarding the role of the built environment in issues of patient safety and infection control, patient-staff outcomes, and the interventional role of the physical environment. The results of this comprehensive literature review (2005-2020) demonstrate an increase in design of single-bed ICUs, increase in the engagement of families in the ICU experience, acknowledgement of improving caregiver well-being, performance through designing staff amenities, increased attention to the therapeutic role of exposure to nature and lighting, and increased pandemic concerns related to containment of the COVID-19 virus.
Added May 2021
SARS-CoV-2 viability on 16 common indoor surface finish materials
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 14
Pages 49-64
Author(s): Ronca, S. E., Sturdivant, R. X., Barr, K. L., Harris, D.
During the coronavirus pandemic, studies identified the contaminated environmental surface materials as potential pathways for viral transmission of the disease through contact. To understand the role of surfaces, 16 materials were contaminated with the virus and the stability of the virus on each material was examined.
Added March 2021
Air Care: an ‘aerography’ of breath, buildings and bugs in the cystic fibrosis clinic
2020
Sociology of Health and Illness
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 972-986
Author(s): Brown, N., Buse, C., Lewis, A., Martin, D., Nettleton, S.
Research in medical humanities works on hospital architecture demonstrates the historical significance of spatial design for airflow and air exchange from the pre-antibiotic period until the present. The spatial and atmospheric design of hospitals is conceived while paying attention to the prevention of the spread of airborne infections, e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF).
Added April 2020
An assessment of a hybrid lighting system that employs ultraviolet-A for mitigating healthcare-associated infections in a newborn intensive care unit
2020
Lighting Research & Technology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 52
Pages 704-721
Author(s): Brons, J. A., Bierman, A., White, R., Benner, K., Deng, L., Rea, M. S.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect approximately one in 25 patients in the US. One study found that an average of fewer than 50% of patient room surfaces are properly cleaned, making infection spread more easily. This study explores the use of a no-touch decontamination method that employs hybrid lighting technology with both white light and UV-A optical radiation.
Added February 2020
Airflow patterns through a sliding door during opening and foot traffic in operating rooms
2016
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Villafruela, J. M., San José, J. F., Castro, F., Zarzuelo, A.
Operating rooms (ORs) often have higher air pressure than nearby rooms to prevent potentially contaminated air from entering the OR and causing infection. Opening the door during an operation may cause a change in pressure; further change in pressure may occur if a person moves through the door.
Added February 2020
Particle control reduces fine and ultrafine particles greater than HEPA filtration in live operating rooms and kills biologic warfare surrogate
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Ereth, M. H., Hess, D. H., Driscoll, A., Hernandez, M., Stamatatos, F.
Modern buildings tend to feature more insulation and tighter building envelopes, which can increase concentrations of indoor pathogens, particles, and pollutants. This can lead to higher rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), making the control of indoor air quality critically important.
Added January 2020
Use of an automated hand hygiene compliance system by emergency room nurses and technicians is associated with decreased employee absenteeism
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 48
Pages 575-577
Author(s): Strauch, J., Braun, T. M., Short, H.
The relationship between hand hygiene intervention and absenteeism has been studied in other contexts besides healthcare. Researchers examined how improving hand hygiene practices among emergency room (ER) nurses and technicians affected their absenteeism and overtime hours worked by substitute staff.
Added December 2019
Impact of sink location on hand hygiene compliance for Clostridium difficile infection
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 43
Pages 387-389
Author(s): Zellmer, C., Blakney, R., Van Hoof, S., Safdar, N.
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common health complication arising within medical environments that can place noticeable strain on healthcare systems. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided hand hygiene guidelines for mitigating these infections following contact during an outbreak situation; however, various barriers may prevent compliance with these hand hygiene guidelines.
Added November 2019
The influence of spatial configuration on the frequency of use of hand sanitizing stations in health care environments
2017
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Neo, J. R. J., Zadeh, R.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect over 1.7 million people each year, and subsequently cost the U.S. economy approximately $8.2 billion each year. Hand hygiene compliance (HHC), which involves washing hands thoroughly with alcohol-based rubs or soap and water, is widely regarded as a major prevention measure against the transmission of pathogens that cause HAIs.
Added December 2018
Human factors considerations in designing for infection prevention and control in neonatal care – findings from a pre-design inquiry
2018
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 61
Pages 169-184
Author(s): Trudel, C., Cobb, S., Momtahan, K., Brintnell, J., Mitchell, A.
As healthcare environments are being more frequently redesigned to improve patient experiences and provider operations, it becomes increasingly important that healthcare providers themselves understand how these new designs are intended to be utilized. Giving healthcare providers a deeper understanding of the functions and purposes underlying important healthcare design decisions could help reduce potential operational errors or staff frustrations.
Added December 2018
The role of the built environment and private rooms for reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections
2018
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 13
Pages 12
Author(s): O’Neill, L., Park, S.-H., Rosinia, F.
Private patient rooms in hospital environments are widely considered a helpful defense against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, the ways in which private rooms might help mitigate specific kinds of HAIs, such as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), remain unclear and relatively unexplored.
Added August 2018
Hesitation and error: Does product placement in an emergency department influence hand hygiene performance?
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 43
Pages 913-916
Author(s): Stackelroth, J., Sinnott, M., Shaban, R. Z.
Previous research has thoroughly established the important role proper hand hygiene plays in reducing and controlling healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Nonetheless, previous studies also show that poor hand hygiene practices remain common in both public and private hospitals. In order to promote effective hand hygiene habits within healthcare environments, designers focus on ensuring that hand hygiene products are easily available and accessible.
Added July 2017
Relationship between Environmental Conditions and Nosocomial Infection Rates in Intensive Care Unit
2017
Medical Journal of Islamic World Academy of Sciences
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 25
Pages 15–18
Author(s): Şimşek, E. M., Grassie, S. S., Emre, C., Gevrek, S. Ç.
Due to the highly vulnerable state of the patients populating intensive care units (ICUs) and the health risks posed to healthcare providers working in ICUs, special attention must be given to the causes and effects of nosocomial infections within these areas.
Added June 2017
Reduction of Environmental Contamination With Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria by Copper-Alloy Coating of Surfaces in a Highly Endemic Setting
2017
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 38
Pages 765-771
Author(s): Souli, M., Antoniadou, A., Katsarolis, I., Mavrou, I., Paramythiotou, E., Papadomichelakis, E., Drogari-Apiranthitou, M., Panagea, T., Giamarellou, H., Petrikkos, G., Armaganidis, Apostolos
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are often caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This is especially problematic in intensive care units (ICUs) due to the vulnerable nature of both patients and staff in these environments.
Added June 2017
