The First Facility Management Blog

When Credit Valley Hospital (CVH) in Mississauga, Ontario was originally commissioned in 1985, drinking fountains were not viewed as a threatening source of communicable diseases. However, several years ago, faced with growing concerns after a deadly infectious outbreak of C. difficile in an Ontario hospital, the 365-bed CVH needed to pursue new infection control measures.

Farrow Partnership Architects (FPA), a firm located in Toronto, saw that CVH’s drinking fountains, which had been decommissioned but still had an existing built-in source of water, could be converted into a hand washing units as a positive force for infection control.

One of 15 drinking fountains converted to infection control units in Credit Valley Hospital in Ontario.

According to Health Canada, hospital-acquired infections kill some 8,000 to 12,000 patients across that country every year, and cost the health system millions of dollars. The Canadian Health Network points out that hands spread an estimated 80% of common infectious diseases, yet studies show less than half of hospital nurses and physicians clean their hands between patients.

In 2008, working with CVH’s infection control and maintenance managers, FPA developed and implemented 15 hand washing units in the corridor of an inpatient care area over a one-month period. Aimed primarily at reducing the spread of infection, it was also recognized that improvements in hand washing facilities would reduce the risk of legal action resulting from infection disease outbreaks.

These hand washing units were designed in the absence of any government performance guidelines, specifications, or industry standards. At the start of this initiative, FPA and CVH created the following criteria for success that was realized through the ultimate design:

• Convenience and ease of use: reduced the significant time loss incurred by busy doctors and nurses walking to a distant location many times a day
• Minimal spread of contaminated water: deep basin reduces splashing of soiled water
• Minimal amount of physical contact: faucet with hands-free operation
• Rapid prototyping: off theshelf components were used where possible to reduce implementation time (e.g., regular paper towel dispenser and disposal)
• Ease of installation: developed a self contained unit for ease of installation into new or existing plumbing
• Warm and inviting materials: selected solid surface material over the more clinical standard stainless steel products
• Supportive of maintenance programs: solid surface material conducive to low maintenance and ease of cleaning

Diverse participants contributed to the success of the hand washing units including the hospital’s infection control committee, various doctors and nurses, and the maintenance staff. FPA worked with a subcontractor and Wilsonart to develop the prototypes and final product. Nurses and infection control committee members commented on the first prototype and minor adjustments were made, which included a curved front to facilitate cleaning and to create a more elegant looking shape. A second prototype, complete with plumbing and antiseptic gel, was developed and put into use over a two-week period.

Ultimately 15 final versions of the hand washing units were installed in 2008, and more will be added as funding becomes available.

(Photo: Tom Arban)

The Clickeze division of InPro Corporation has introduced a new version of its Shield™ line of infection fighting fabrics. The new fabrics offer the same safeguards as previous versions, but the base material has been improved to provide an enhanced look and softer feel. The new material also allows for double-sided printing on many patterns.

Also for 2009, Clickeze has added three new patterns (Nottingham, Gentry, and Tudor) in 18 new colorways. In addition to privacy curtains, Shield fabric can be used for shower curtains, window treatments, and bed coverings.

Unlike disinfectants or other treatments, Shield fabric eliminates microbes on its own. Originally developed by Panaz in the UK, Shield technology uses positively charged silane-based molecules that modify the fabric it is affixed to. Instead of leeching into the surrounding fabric, the Shield technology remains permanently fixed to the fabric. When a microbe comes into contact with the fabric, the Shield technology destroys the cell.

An ASTM E 2149-01 test of Shield fabrics showed that the material eliminated 99.8% or more of the most common microbes classed as the worst sources of hospital acquired infections (MRSA and VRE, and 95.7% of clostridium difficile (c. diff.)).

In addition to its infection fighting properties, Shield fabrics also offer stain resistance and can be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild detergent. The fabrics retain their infection fighting properties through repeated thermal washings, conform to the NFPA701 flame-retardant standard, and come in 49 patterns and colors.

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will join with the International Water Association (IWA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and other partnering organizations to celebrate World Water Monitoring Day™ 2008 on Thursday, September 18 at Hains Point Park in Washington, DC. This year’s program will feature a special hand washing campaign to recognize the United Nations’ “International Year of Sanitation.”

World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is an international outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. Held annually between September 18 and October 18, the program engages communities in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries, and other waterbodies.

Worldwide participation is expected to surpass last year, when more than 46,000 people tested water quality in 43 countries. The program coordinators, WEF and IWA, plan to expand participation to one million people in 100 countries by 2012.

Working in partnership with Procter & Gamble, an estimated 12,000 water monitoring kits, including bars of biodegradable, environmentally friendly soap and a handwashing fact sheet, will be distributed to people in more than 50 countries as part of the “Wash Your Hands, Save a Life” campaign. This campaign provides an opportunity to offer a key message about basic hygiene to people around the world. Particularly in countries where adequate sanitation systems and hygiene knowledge are lacking, this message can save lives.

Following brief opening remarks and safety demonstration, a diverse group of attendees will conduct hands-on testing of both the Anacostia River and Potomac River for water quality indicators including dissolved oxygen, acidity, temperature, and turbidity (clarity). Results are reported online, tabulated, and presented in a year-end report that documents program participation. Event speakers include: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) (invited); Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. EPA (invited); WEF President Adam Zabinski; Ase Johannessen, Development Programme Officer for IWA; Eddy Perez, Senior Sanitation Specialist for World Bank D.C.; and Jerry Johnson, General Manager of the DC Water and Sewer Authority.

In addition to WEF, IWA, EPA and USGS, participating organizations include PerkinElmer Instruments, Smithfield Foods, CH2M HILL, ITT Corporation, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, Naturalist Audubon Society, Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital, Earth Day Network, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the National Environmental Education Foundation, and many more.