3 Hospital Features You Didn’t Know Could Be Threatening Your Patients
Hospitals are where most people go to get well, but whenever you have a large collection of sick people, it creates an environment where bacteria and viruses can grow and thrive.
Even established hospital features could potentially threaten your patients. What features should you be concerned about, and what can you do to protect your patients? Here’s a look at three of them.
1. Multi-Patient Rooms
Space is at a premium in most hospitals, so multi-patient rooms are becoming more and more common, especially in hospitals that see a lot of foot traffic. While they’re great for space economy, they can be dangerous, especially when it comes to disease transmission. One study found that multi-patient rooms increased the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses by up to 20 percent. This includes viruses like MRSA and norovirus.
This risk can be mitigated by creating and enforcing strict handwashing protocols. Using computer models, researchers can project how bacteria and viruses can spread inside a multi-patient room. This enables hospitals to make the best decisions to prevent virus transmission when multi-patient rooms are necessary.
2. Water Systems
Every hospital has a water system that is necessary for patient care and comfort, but an unmaintained water system can spread illness, such as Legionnaires’ disease. Of the 2,800 cases of Legionnaires’ disease that were reported in 2015, more than 500 were attributed to infections acquired in medical facilities.
“Legionella is a naturally occurring organism that frequently inhabits buildings’ water systems,” explains Brett Colburn, Water Treatment Specialist at Chardon Laboratories. “Hospitals present a higher risk of disease spreading due to the vulnerability of a hospital’s patients and the many systems associated with these buildings.”
“Systems like cooling towers, humidifiers, and shower/faucet heads can all be at risk for transmitting the bacteria to occupants via water droplets,” Colburn says. “The growth of Legionella bacteria is typically found areas of stagnant water or low flow regions of the piping, so establishing a proper water treatment of hospital systems is crucial to helping lower the risk of a Legionnaire’s outbreak.”
3. Everyday Surfaces
Surfaces in a hospital are among the dirtiest places in the world. Many bacteria and viruses can survive on hard surfaces for several days, allowing the microscopic life forms to spread far and wide.
Some of the worst surfaces include cell phones and computer keyboards. They are used multiple times every single day and are very rarely cleaned. Using your phone in the bathroom makes the perfect home for colonies of fecal bacteria and other coliforms.
Tablets, keyboards and other devices should be wiped down with antibacterial wipes at least once a day. That way, medical professionals can use electronic devices to keep track of patient records and prescriptions without carrying bacteria or viruses from room to room.
Clean Hospitals Mean Diseases Spread Less
Hospitals are havens for the sick and wounded, but they can also be havens for viruses and bacteria. It’s up to medical professionals to take the necessary steps to cut down on the growth and spread of these microscopic organisms, whether that means providing antibacterial wipes to sanitize surfaces or exploring options to clean up existing water systems to prevent the spread of Legionnaires’ disease. Computer models are also useful tools to predict and prevent the spread of airborne viruses.
Make sure your hospital is safe for all of your patients, regardless of their health condition. It’s up to healthcare professionals to take steps to prevent bacteria and virus growth in medical facilities.
It’s not possible to prevent all disease transmission in an environment so rife with bacteria, but it is feasible to take steps to reduce transmission and protect patients who are coming to the hospital to heal and get stronger.
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