Cross infection and the design of wards operating theatre suites and intensive care units

ABSTRACT

Modern hospitals are one of the most expensive type of buildings. Conflicting demands influenced by many factors make hospital design quite a challenge for architect. Cross infection is a recognized hazard of hospitalization. Some patients are susceptible to cross infection. Wards, Operating Theatre Suites, and Intensive Care Units are the hospital departments where precautions should be taken to safeguard these susceptible patients. Methods of control 1. Location of unit or department. 2. Different routes for clean and dirty utility. 3. Single rooms. 4. Barrier nursing. 5. Air lock and positive and negative pressure, 6. Isolation ward. 7. Negative-plenum plastic isolator. Complicated aseptic techniques and elaborate design solutions could be adopted, but priorities, in terms of cost, time, effort, and the degree of the patient's safety from cross infection should be carefully studied in each case, before selecting one or several methods of control