Surfaces are no longer just a design
consideration. They are the founda-
tion for infection prevention and
control. Confusion and confl icting
opinions leave many aspects of the
problem unaddressed, and patients,
healthcare workers and the general
public at risk of contracting a health-
care-associated infection.
It is not enough to learn every
physical characteristic of a given surface material or even
all surface materials. It is not enough to become an expert
in the latest disinfection agents and protocols. This data
must be combined with an understanding of the patient
Healthcare surfaces provide foundation
for infection prevention
More than Design
care process and insight into human behavior
patterns. Only by bringing all these aspects to-
gether to form a comprehensive understanding
of the issues can we begin to
develop the sweeping changes
that will be required to make a
signifi cant reduction in the rate
of infection.
Surface selection
stakeholders
During a recent survey, 700
participants representing
infection prevention, environmental services and
facilities management were asked who makes
surfacing decisions for their facility. Seventy-fi ve
percent of survey respondents said architects
Spotlight
surfaces
DESIGN FOR CLEAN
Right: This hand-
washing station is
located in a busy ED
just outside of a
patient bay. The
surface material of the
sink selected was
layered or connected
with other surface
materials. Seams and
textured surfaces can
create microbial
reservoirs that
disinfection products
cannot reach.
Minimizing the
number of surface
materials and textures
simplifi es the
disinfection process.
BY LINDA LYBERT
20
Medical Construction & Design | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2016 | MCDM AG.COM