US study links facility design to hospital infections

Research evidence shows that facility design, specifically that which affects the transmission of infection through air, surfaces, and water - can help in reducing hospital-acquired, or nosocomial, infections - a leading cause of death in the US.

The issue is explored in a 16-page paper recently released by The Center for Health Design (CHD) titled 'The Impact of the Environment on Infections in Healthcare Facilities'.

"Hospital-acquired infections kill more Americans each year than AIDS, breast cancer, or automobile accidents," says Anjali Joseph, CHD's Director of Research and author of the paper. In 1995 alone, she reports that nosocomial infections contributed to more than 88,000 deaths - one death every six minutes - and cost US$4.5 billion. The total number of nosocomial infections a year is estimated to be 2 million.

The paper's findings provide suggestions for hospitals to help eliminate nosocomial infections, for example: adequate ventilation rates and regular cleaning and maintenance of the ventilation system; environmental support for handwashing - providing numerous, con-veniently located alcohol-rub dispensers or washing sinks; single-bed rooms are easier to disinfect than multi-occupancy rooms; regular cleaning, mainte-nance, and testing of water systems and point-of-use fixtures can help prevent the spread of waterborne infections, such as Legionnaires' disease.