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Infection Control Issues in Construction and Renovation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Cheryl D. Carter  and
Brenda A. Barr
Cheryl D. Carter
Affiliation:
Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Brenda A. Barr
Affiliation:
Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
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Abstract

Construction or renovation projects in hospitals pose special challenges. Infection control personnel should be involved in all phases of these projects to ensure that patients, visitors, and staff are protected from unnecessary exposure to infectious agents. Infection control personnel must identify the infection risks posed by each project and must plan ways to minimize the risk. Infection control personnel also must ensure that municipal, county, state, and federal infection control guidelines and regulations are met. This article will discuss basic infection control issues encountered during construction and renovation, offer practical suggestions for addressing these issues, discuss common questions that infection control personnel must address, and describe outbreaks related to construction and renovation.

Type
Practical Healthcare Epidemiology
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 18 , Issue 8 , August 1997 , pp. 587 - 596
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1997

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