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Infect Dis Health
. 2023 Oct 6:S2468-0451(23)00061-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.08.004. Online ahead of print. Designed for a pandemic: Mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through hospital design and infrastructure
Brendan Kennedy 1 , Anushia Ashokan 2 , Chuan Kok Lim 3 , Diana Lagana 4 , Marija Juraja 4 , David Shaw 2
Affiliations
Background: To describe the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) design and infrastructure features that helped mitigate the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission within the hospital during the pre-vaccination and pre-antiviral period.
Method: The RAH infrastructure, design and initial pandemic response was assessed. A retrospective review of all confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted from 1 February 2020 to 30 May 2020 was also performed to assess risk of transmission. Outbreak response reports were reviewed to identify episodes of nosocomial COVID-19.
Results: Key infrastructure features include single-bed overnight rooms with dedicated bathrooms, creation of pandemic areas accessible only to pandemic staff, and sophisticated air-handling units with improved ventilation. A total of 264 COVID-19 related admission occurred, with 113 confirmed cases and 1579 total cumulative bed days. Despite a limited understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, no vaccination or anti-viral therapy, global shortages of particulate filter respirators and restricted testing during this period, only one probable nosocomial COVID-19 case occurred in a healthcare worker, with no nosocomial cases involving patients.
Conclusions: The RAH design and pandemic features complimented existing infection control interventions and was important in limiting nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: COVID-19; Hospital design and infrastructure; Infection control; SARS-CoV-2 infection.
. 2023 Oct 6:S2468-0451(23)00061-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.08.004. Online ahead of print. Designed for a pandemic: Mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through hospital design and infrastructure
Brendan Kennedy 1 , Anushia Ashokan 2 , Chuan Kok Lim 3 , Diana Lagana 4 , Marija Juraja 4 , David Shaw 2
Affiliations
- PMID: 37806908
- DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.08.004
Background: To describe the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) design and infrastructure features that helped mitigate the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission within the hospital during the pre-vaccination and pre-antiviral period.
Method: The RAH infrastructure, design and initial pandemic response was assessed. A retrospective review of all confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted from 1 February 2020 to 30 May 2020 was also performed to assess risk of transmission. Outbreak response reports were reviewed to identify episodes of nosocomial COVID-19.
Results: Key infrastructure features include single-bed overnight rooms with dedicated bathrooms, creation of pandemic areas accessible only to pandemic staff, and sophisticated air-handling units with improved ventilation. A total of 264 COVID-19 related admission occurred, with 113 confirmed cases and 1579 total cumulative bed days. Despite a limited understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, no vaccination or anti-viral therapy, global shortages of particulate filter respirators and restricted testing during this period, only one probable nosocomial COVID-19 case occurred in a healthcare worker, with no nosocomial cases involving patients.
Conclusions: The RAH design and pandemic features complimented existing infection control interventions and was important in limiting nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: COVID-19; Hospital design and infrastructure; Infection control; SARS-CoV-2 infection.