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.

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Spotlight surfaces of the hospital or from the hands of workers, family and visitors. Recent published research with a focus on microbial attachment to sur- faces and the development of biofi lm begins to reveal concerning evidence that microbes have the ability to resist biocides. Biofi lm is a group of microorgan- isms in which cells stick to each other on a surface. These cells are frequent- ly embedded within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance and are resistant to bio- cides. Understanding this process lays the foundation to develop solu- tions that will disrupt the formation of biofi lm, which provides some level of protection from microbes. Not all surfaces are created equal Patient shedding and human interac- tion with not just the patient but also with surrounding surfaces contribute to the rapid spread of pathogens. With one client, environmental services staf spent up to 15 minutes cleaning a patient room on a daily basis, which was hardly enough time to quickly dust things of and sweep the fl oor. Bioburden continued to accumulate on surfaces that were not cleaned. This facility was about three years old; many surfaces were begin- ning to show wear. It is important to remember not all surfaces can be cleaned the same way. Trying to keep track of what products can be used on what surfaces is dif cult at best. Rarely are cleaning products switched, leaving surfaces susceptible to ongoing damage. Now imagine in the same room within a few feet of the bed six new surface materials being used, more textures, more seams and connec- tions. This area, not considered a high-touch area, had signifi cant hu- man interaction. Over a three-day period, a solid surface windowsill served as a seat for visitors, a location for clean and dirty linens, fl owers, gifts and cards. At one point the pebble-textured wall just below the windowsill and rubber baseboard was splashed with body fl uids of the patient, causing someone to grab a dry towel and wipe it of . Due to the lack of visible soil the area was not cleaned or disinfected any further. It is important to note that walls are not cleaned often and can be high touch. The wall below the windowsill in this patient room was an example of that. The legs of visitors sitting on the windowsill were in constant contact with the wall. The patient, when sitting in the chair, frequently touched the wall and we also know at one point the wall was contaminated with patient body fl uids. The cleaning and disinfec- tion challenge was fi rst identifying it as a high-touch area and then dealing with the textured surface and all the seams. To address the challenge of keeping this wall clean, the use of smooth, non- textured, seamless surface materials were used to protect the wall from damage and facilitate the limited time for daily cleaning. Surface materials and how they are assembled play a signifi cant role in minimizing the spread of infections. Location, human behavior and the ability to clean and disinfect surfaces are often not considered during the selection process but must be in order to provide the foundation necessary to achieve a sustainable reduction in the spread of infections. Linda Lybert is president of Healthcare Surface Consulting and co-founder of the Healthcare Surfaces Summit. She has more than 17 years of experience educating professionals about the ac- tive role surfaces play in the spread of infections. MULTI- SURFACE CHALLENGE Six new surface mate- rials were added in this patient room. The area is roughly a few feet away from the patient's bed. Although not considered a high-touch area, it had signifi cant human inter- action with healthcare staff and visitors. light Spotlight Solid Surface Product Actively Fights Mold, Mildew and Bacteria InPro Corporation offers a solid surface material that stops the growth of mold and mildew and actively eliminates many dangerous microbes: BioPrism Antimicrobial. BioPrism Solid Surface is available in a number of fi nished products, including shower and tub surrounds, receptors, wall panels, privacy partitions, vanities and more. Wall panels can be hard seamed to minimize the number of areas for dirt to hide. In addition, the panels can be produced in large sheet sizes to reduce the number of seams needed and the amount of waste going into land- fi lls. ID#104 safe and comfortable fl ooring with Terrain rx. The fl ooring features Ecore's patented itstru technology, which fusion bonds a heterogeneous sheet vinyl surface that looks like stone or linen to a 5 millimeter Ecore performance rubber backing. Terrain Rx also offers an polyurethane- reinforced (PUR) wear layer that makes the surface durable, easy to clean and ideal for healthcare environments. ID#102 Flooring Line Inspired By Nature, Designed By Customers noraplan value, recently launched by nora sys- tems, Inc., carries the outside elements of na- ture indoors while meeting the combined values of ultra-dura- ble performance and well-being for today's healthcare market, with a focus on patient-centered environments. noraplan valua offers a calmingly tranquil color palette of 32 nature-inspired hues in two unique design options that offer varying degrees of contrast and a seamless natural texture. Available in sheet and planks, the fl oor covering lends itself to a variety of applica- tions in healthcare settings. ID#103 MCDM AG.COM | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2016 | Medical Construction & Design 23

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