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Oladapo, O and Liyanage, C L (2010) Control of healthcare associated infections: a concerted effort. In: Egbu, C (Ed.), Proceedings 26th Annual ARCOM Conference, 6-8 September 2010, Leeds, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 1, 13–20.
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Keywords: design and construction; facilities management; facilities planning; healthcare associated infection; infection control
- ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9552390-4-5
- URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2010-0013-0020_Oladapo_and_Liyanage.pdf
- Abstract:
Nosocomial infection or Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) is a significant problem in UK hospitals; recognized also as presenting a significant problem in terms of quality of care and cost for hospitals, governments and consumers in most countries. Although, many researchers and healthcare managers consider HAI as basically a medical issue, it is a result of inadequacies of the ‘built environment’ subjects as well. Research has confirmed that the healthcare environment is a secondary reservoir for organisms with the potential for infecting patients. It includes all the physical surroundings of patients and staff, i.e. structure, fittings, fixtures, furnishings, equipment and supplies. Poor facilities planning and arrangements facilitate the spread of infections in the healthcare setting. The paper describes FM functions to be considered in the control of HAI during design and construction stages and during building occupancy stage (maintenance). It also suggests that if HAI is to be reduced, it becomes important that infection control is “designed-in” at the planning and design stages of a healthcare-facility (new build or renovation project) meaning that designers, architects, engineers, facilities managers and planners will work in collaboration with infection control teams to deliver facilities in which infection control ‘needs’ have been planned for, anticipated and met. Therefore, on the whole, this makes tackling the problem of HAI a combination of professional efforts of both parties from the clinical side and non-clinical side.