Effectiveness of improved hydrogen peroxide in decontaminating privacy curtains contaminated with multidrug-resistant pathogens
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 42
Pages 426-428
Author(s): Rutala, W. A., Gergen, M. F., Sickbert-Bennett, E. E., Williams, D. A., Weber, D. J.
Added January 2016
Facility Design and Healthcare-Acquired Infections
2014
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 44
Pages 129-132
Author(s): Stichler, J. F.
This article outlines the relationship between select design elements and the pervasive problem of healthcare-acquired infections.
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
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
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
Taking ergonomics to the bedside – A multi-disciplinary approach to designing safer healthcare
2014
Applied Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 45
Pages 629-638
Author(s): Norris, B., West, J., Anderson, O., Davey, G., Brodie, A.
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
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
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
Investigation of healthcare-acquired infections associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in taps in neonatal units in Northern Ireland
2014
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 86
Pages 16-23
Author(s): Walker, J. T., Jhutty, A., Parks, S., Willis, C., Copley, V., Turton, J. F., Hoffman, P. N., Bennett, A. M.
Added November 2014
Accuracy of a radiofrequency identification (RFID) badge system to monitor hand hygiene behavior during routine clinical activities
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 42
Pages 144-147
Author(s): Pineles, L. L., Morgan, D. J., Limper, H. M., Weber, S. G., Thom, K. A., Perencevich, E. N., Harris, A. D., Landon, E.
Added November 2014
Automated and electronically assisted hand hygiene monitoring systems: A systematic review
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 472-478
Author(s): Ward, M. A., Schweizer, M. L., Polgreen, P. M., Gupta, K., Reisinger, H. S., Perencevich, E. N.
Added November 2014
Implementation of innovative pulsed xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) environmental cleaning in an acute care hospital
2014
Journal of Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
Journal Article
Author(s): Fornwalt, L., Riddell, B.
Cleaning of the hospital environment is considered crucial to the prevention of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and overall patient safety. The authors note that many European and American hospitals use new technologies like ultraviolet (UV) light and hydrogen peroxide vapor to clean their facilities, and that these have been effective in reducing the HAI rates.
Added September 2014
