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Mintie believes in education. It's a cornerstone of our relationship with the communities we work with. There are general resources in this section, but please look for more specific information in the topics below. If you think there is a resource we should add, let us know. And if you are looking for product information please see the resource center.
- Understanding HAI
- CDC HAI Burden Slides
- CMS SSI no pay
- CDH Issue Paper on Infection Control
- DH - Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of HAI
- GAO letter on HAI
- Effect of Healthcare-Acquired Infection
- GAO letter on HAI
- Effect of Healthcare-Acquired Infection
- infection_control_webinar_19012010
- Understanding Joint Commission Standards
- Joint Commission Standards 2010 airborne particulates
- NEHES_2008_Fall_Conference_Maurer
- General Guidance
- Fact Pack
- ASHRAE Positional doc on Airborne diseases
- CDC Disinfect Ster Guideline 08
- Designing in house ed programs
- Economic evaluation of IC program
- Forming Partnerships - IC and Engineering
ICRA
The Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is an important tool in reducing the number of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Specific precautions are recommended based on classification of location and severity of construction, maintenance and renovation work. The Joint Commission 2010 standards not only require the use of an ICRA but also specify that following the appropriate recommendations is a direct impact requirement. Additionally, the CDC, APIC, ASHE, AIA and numerous other groups call for its use. See Construction / Maintenance Containment for information on environmental controls.
- APIC ICRA
- ASHRE updated guidelines for design and construction of hospital
- CDC Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities
- ICRA educational
- JSI 4th edition standards
Construction / Maintenance Containment
Worker activities in healthcare facilities are a common source of particulate generation and release. Materials such as dust and allergens pose little risk to healthy individuals but can cause severe problems for patients with compromised immune systems. Environmental Controls, including barriers and HEPA filters, are an effective method for preventing the spread of potentially harmful particulates. Please see the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) for more information on regulation.
- 2010 HFM_ConstrRpt
- AJIC - Portable HEPA filters effective against IA
- APIC State of the Art
- Five Most Common Infection Control Mistakes to Avoid During Smaller Renovation Projects
- Managing the risk of Mold in construction
Pandemic Preparedness
Currently in the US there are fewer than 1 million hospital beds for a population of over 300 million, less than half of one percent. This is normally sufficient for regular operation and common across the world. But in the event of a disaster or pandemic this capacity could be easily overwhelmed, particularly by infectious individuals that would require separation from the general patient population. There are a number of surge capacity tools to help plan a mass isolation solution to cohort patients.
- Planning Tools
- Disaster Drill Guidebk
- AJIC-The pandemic influenza planning process in Ontario acute care hospitals
- APIC IP for ACS 2009
- EMITALA waiver for pandemic response
- CDC ph prep
- Environmental Controls for droplet and airborne transmissible pandemic
- H1N1_National_Strategic_Plan
- OSHA pandemic prep survey report
- OSHA_pandemic_health
- Pandemic Flu community toolkit
- pandemicflu.gov
- Pan-Flu legal issues
- PCAST_H1N1_Report 2009
- Planning for Epidemics - the lessons of SARS
- Swine Flu Applications
- AHRMM Pandemic_flu_043009
- AEM Use of NAM to Create Mass Isolation in hospital
- Transmission of Disease
- Aerosol transmission_Tang_JHI_Oct06
- APIC aerosol procedure list
- AU IC in Pandemic
- Blachere_airborne influenza_cid09
- Cough series
- Review of Aerosol Transmission of Influenza A virus
- Transmission of Infl A - Review - Lancet Inf Dis – 2007
Temporary Mechanical Ventailation
Environmental Controls are an effective method for preventing the spread of potentially harmful particulates. The growing prevalence of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) has increased the importance of this type prevention as opposed to treatment. Physical and Pressure barriers, when properly deployed with HEPA filtration, can create high level protective and isolation environments.
- A J Streifel article
- Achieving Daily and Pandemic Surge Capacity
- AEM Design Operation of high-level isolation units
- AIIR for TB
- Airborne-inf-disease-man-mdh
- ajic acinetobacter study
- AJIC article
- CDC-Isolation-guidlines2007
- Mobile Containment System poster
- ECU Temporary Mechanical Ventilation
- HVAC Design_Airborne Disease_NIST2006
- NHS Estates – HVAC
- Nordic review of pascal
- Negative pressure isolation of OR
- Vent Hosp Wards_AJIC_0508
- WHO Natural Ventilation for IC in HCS 2009
HVAC Maintenance Regulation and Benefits
Air handling systems have been shown to have a direct impact on building occupant health. Joint Commission guidelines for healthcare facilities can be divided into those which specify acceptable HVAC performance, integration into infection prevention and control activities and the responsibilities of facility leadership after issues are identified. Restoration and maintenance of HVAC system components also extends system life and reduces operating costs.
- 2010 HFM_ConstrRpt
- ASHREA-IAQ
- ASHREA-mold prevention in HVAC
- Blumberg IAQ survey
- Blumberg IAQ survey PR
- CHD Issue Paper on Infection Control
- chiller challenge enegry efficiency
- CoilCleaningSavesEnergy2006
- Edison HVAC Tips
- energy star real estate
- Engineer's Digest energy efficiency
- FYP energy_tips_results
- Green Guidelines hospital construction
- HBI HVAC aug-sep
- hvac energy consumption characteristics
- JC Regulation HVAC
- JC HVAC Overview
- Usgbc
Wild Fire / Smoke Protection
In addition to the fine particulates and ash directly produced during fires, strong updrafts pull additional material into the atmosphere. This material can penetrate healthcare facilities through the air handling system, doors windows and other breaches in the building envelope. HVAC system integrity and patient safety can be protected during and after these events with proactive response.
- EPAposter2008_HR
- Fire Response
- Wildfire_smoke_guide_july08
Tuberculosis
An estimated 1.7 million people died of Tuberculosis in 2009 and there are growing incidents of Multi-drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB). Although prevalence varies dramatically by region, readiness cannot be ignored anywhere. Treatment costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and mortality rates for extremely drug resistant strains can rise above 50%.
- AIIR for TB
- CDC Survey - worldwide emergence of XDR-TB
- ECDE tb_surveillance_in_europe_2008
- Infection prevention2_TB
- Infectiousness of TB journal.pmed
- Lambert L_Reves R_Cost TB Skin Testing_Hospitals_ICHE1103
- MMWR TB Katrina
- Rochkind_IndiaTBCaptions
- Stop TB
- transcontinental spread of MDR-TB
- WHO 07-08 XDR facts
- WHO 2009 TB Guidance