Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-15T05:02:42.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Infection Control Issues in Construction and Renovation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Cheryl D. Carter  and
Brenda A. Barr
Cheryl D. Carter
Affiliation:
Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Brenda A. Barr
Affiliation:
Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Construction or renovation projects in hospitals pose special challenges. Infection control personnel should be involved in all phases of these projects to ensure that patients, visitors, and staff are protected from unnecessary exposure to infectious agents. Infection control personnel must identify the infection risks posed by each project and must plan ways to minimize the risk. Infection control personnel also must ensure that municipal, county, state, and federal infection control guidelines and regulations are met. This article will discuss basic infection control issues encountered during construction and renovation, offer practical suggestions for addressing these issues, discuss common questions that infection control personnel must address, and describe outbreaks related to construction and renovation.

Type
Practical Healthcare Epidemiology
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 18 , Issue 8 , August 1997 , pp. 587 - 596
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Opal, SM, Asp, AA, Cannady, PB Jr, Morse, PL, Burton, LJ, Hammer, PG II. Efficacy of infection control measures during a nosocomial outbreak of disseminated aspergillosis associated with hospital construction. J Infect Dis 1986;153:634–637.Google Scholar
2. Fitch, H. Hospital and industry can benefit by sharing contamination control knowledge. Clean Rooms 1993;7:8–9.Google Scholar
3. Bryce, EA, Walker, M, Scharf, S, et al. An outbreak of cutaneous aspergillosis in a tertiary-care hospital. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1996;17:170–172.Google Scholar
4. The American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Health. 1992-1993 Guidelines for Construction and Equipment of Hospital and Medical Facilities. Washington, DC: The American Institute of Architects Press; 1992.Google Scholar
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health care facilities, 1994. MMWR 1994;43(RR-13):29.Google Scholar
6. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. ASHRE Handbook 1985 Fundamentals: Atlanta, GA: ASHRE; 1985.Google Scholar
7. The APIC Curriculum for Infection Control Practice. Vol. II. Soule, BM, ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co; 1983.Google Scholar
8. Neill, HM. Isolation-room ventilation critical to control disease. Health Facil Manage 1992;5:30–38.Google Scholar
9. Langley, JM, Hanakowski, M, Bortolussi, R. Demand for isolation beds in a pediatric hospital. Am J Infect Control 1994;22:207–211.Google Scholar
10. Hankin, RL. Disposal related sharp object injuries. Advances in Exposure Prevention 1995;1:5,11.Google Scholar
11. Madden, C. Environmental considerations in critical care interiors. Crit Care Nurse Q 1991;14:43–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. Wise, KO. Carpet choices for healthcare facilities. Healthcare Materiel Management 1994;12:35–39.Google ScholarPubMed
13. Hospitals and indoor carpeting. Hospital Facilities Management Report 1993;1:12–14.Google Scholar
14. Streifel, AJ, Lauer, JL, Vesley, B, Juni, B, Rhame, FS. Aspergillus fumigatus and other thermotolerant fungi generated by hospital building demolition. Am Soc Microbiol 1983;46:375–378.Google Scholar
15. Arnow, PM, Anderson, RL, Mainous, D, Smith, EJ. Pulmonary Aspergillosis during hospital renovation. Am Rev Respir Dis 1978;118:49–53.Google Scholar
16. Weems, JJ Jr, Davis, BJ, Tablan, OC, Kaufman, L, Martone, WJ. Construction activity: an independent risk factor for invasive aspergillosis and zygomycosis in patients with hematologic malignancy. Infect Control 1987;8:71–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17. Krasinski, K, Hilzman, RS, Hanna, B, et al. Nosocomial fungal infection during hospital renovation. Infect Control 1985;6:278–282.Google Scholar
18. Sarubbi, FA Jr, Kopf, HB, Wilson, MB, McGinnis, MR, Rutala, WA. Increased recovery of Aspergillus flavus from respiratory specimens during hospital construction. Am Rev Respir Dis 1982;125:33–38.Google Scholar
19. Haley, CE, Cohen, ML, Halter, J, Meyer, RD. Nosocomial Legionnaires' disease: a continuing common-source epidemic at Wadsworth Medical Center. Ann Intern Med 1979;90:583–586.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20. Thacker, SB, Bennett, JV, Tsai, TF, et al. An outbreak in 1965 of severe respiratory illness caused by the Legionnaires' disease bacterium. J Infect Dis 1978;138:512–519.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21. Mermel, LA, Josephson, SL, Giorgio, CH, Dempsey, J, Parenteau, S. Association of Legionnaires' disease with construction: contamination of potable water. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1995;16:76–81.Google Scholar