This Hospital Design Material can Reduce HAIs

Hospital design and HAI’S- Health care-acquired infections (HAIs) are on the rise, but a few changes in hospital design materials can prevent outbreaks of flu, Staph infections, and E. coli.  By integrating copper surfaces and other antimicrobial materials into your hospital design- furniture, equipment, and surfaces- many illnesses that patients get during hospital stays can be avoided. Read more about infection protection at your hospital: You visit a hospital for better health, but many patients end up leaving with worse illnesses than they had before checking in. Germs that fester on hospital surfaces such as doorknobs, bed rails, counters, and nurse call buttons can lead to debilitating outbreaks of E. coli, C. diff, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, especially in patients already suffering from poor immune system functioning due to HIV-AIDS, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. But according to leading research, emergency units and other medical facilities can prevent about half of all infections acquired during hospital stays just by switching to all-copper surface materials in the health care environment.

Scientific studies in hospital design

Over the years, there have been several studies on the infection-reducing properties of materials such as copper in preventing health care-acquired illnesses.

UCLA

“Superbugs” are the focus of a hospital-based study out of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center that hopes to prove a reduction of surface bacteria and HAIs by using copper surfaces in hospital design materials. The four-year study is taking place in two intensive care units at the UCLA hospital.

• Scientists will implement two forms of hospital design materials into each unit; one with copper surfaces, the other with a combination of stainless steel and plastic design elements.
• During the next four years, researchers will examine each material type for levels of bacteria.
• They will also measure the ratio of HAIs among patients according to which hospital environment they were exposed to.

“We will be studying if lowering the level of bacteria on hospital surfaces results in reduced infection rates in patients, better outcomes and even lower costs,” said Dr. Daniel Uslan, study author, who is also the head of an antimicrobial stewardship program at the Geffen School of Medicine. The 4 Best Southern California Hospitals to Work In

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

In a study released by Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, scientists discovered that the use of copper surface materials in hospital design reduced health-care acquired infections by a whopping 60%. For hospital administrators, incorporating copper design elements into your medical spaces and patient rooms can result in big savings and increased patient satisfaction, as HAIs generally add about 19 days to one person’s hospital stay.

The CDC

Recently, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has asked hospital administrators to improve hospital environment as a means of preventing avian flu outbreaks and widespread bacterial infections in hospital facilities. By incorporating copper and other antimicrobial finishes into hospital surfaces, furniture, and other equipment, health experts believe that a substantial number of infections can be prevented. Please tell us… If you’re remodeling your medical office, or if you’re planning a new hospital construction, are you more likely to consider using copper elements in your hospital design?  Do you have any questions or suggestions about preventing HAIs?  Please leave your comments below. Share with your friends! If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook. Like this? Read more: Healthcare Facility Trends your Contractor Should Know About Medical Office Remodeling: Top 10 Design Features You’ll Need Image credit