Medical Construction & Design

JAN-FEB 2016

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

Issue link: https://mcdmag.epubxp.com/i/632964

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 24 of 62

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

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Medical Construction & Design - JAN-FEB 2016