Received: February 02, 2018;   Published: February 08, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/TCEIA.2018.01.000110

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Abstract

Hospital buildings are designed with intrinsic features for infection control, and are related to an intensive energy use. The infection control program is structured in a hierarchy of administrative, engineering and PPE controls. Building design plays a major role, because it must not only incorporate the systems that are responsible for infection’s engineering controls, but also the features demanded by the administrative controls. Basic understanding of the infection control hierarchy and strategies and stringent communication with the HICC in the design phase is necessary, not only to provide a healthy and safe environment, but to achieve rational solutions that minimize the complexity, operational and maintenance costs. This review paper contributes with basic information about these topics, and presents references for detailed and advanced information.

Keywords: Infection control; Hospital; Healthcare; Engineering design; Ventilation

ACH: Air Changes Per Hour; ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; CDC: Centers for Disease Control; DHHS: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; HEPA: High Efficiency Particulate Air; HICC: Hospital’s Infection Control Committee; HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning; MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value; PPE: Personal Protective Equipment; UVGI: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation; WHO: World Health Organization

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