Architectural design strategies for infection prevention and control (IPC) in health-care facilities: towards curbing the spread of Covid-19

Abstract

Background Sustainable design strategies are targeted at finding architectural solutions that reassure the well-being and coexistence of inorganic features, living organisms, and humans that make up the ecosystem. The emergence of the novel coronavirus, an increase in microbial resistance, and lack of a vaccine for the present pandemic have made it imperative to appraise the preventive strategies employed during the pre-antibiotic period. Sustainable architecture for children's hospital design and childcare facilities, apart from low energy and carbon emission, must integrate design strategies to confront the impact of infectious diseases. Aim The aim of the paper is to identify how the space patients and health-care workers0 occupy can be made safer from an architectural design perspective with the view of developing guidelines for policymakers and highlighting the architect’s role in combating the pandemic. Objectives The objectives include; to examine the evolution of medical architecture and the nexus between infectious diseases and architectural space and suggest a design approach that enhances infection prevention and control (IPC). Method The paper relied on existing literature, interviews, and interactions with healthcare workers. Results/Conclusion The findings showed that design strategies have always played a significant role in infection prevention and control (IPC) and could as well be a panacea for curbing the spread of Covid -19.

Environmental hygiene, knowledge and cleaning practice: a phenomenological study of nurses and midwives during COVID-19

“…Lacking the full support of management, nurses and midwives were often left without a solid foundation from which to provide care, and at least one nurse was placed at high risk of COVID-19 due to overcrowded staff facilities 19 . The findings stress the importance of hospital and workplace design in either creating or reducing infection in the healthcare environment 3,23,24 . Hospitals and healthcare facilities should factor in sufficient space to allow for safe social distancing between staff, patients and visitors 19,24,25 , and be designed with a view to facilitating easier cleaning (for example, avoiding tight corners and rough surfaces where debris can lodge), handwashing 26 , and preventing infection (for example, sensor-activated automatic doors and curtains, and copper-infused surfaces for frequent touch-points such as handrails) 23 .…”

Identifying Health Care Environment Contradictions in Terms of Infection Control during a Pandemic with a Focus on Health Workers’ Experience

“…Daylight is an excellent bactericidal factor and can inhibit infection [30,38]. Studies suggest that sunlight can kill various bacteria such as anthrax, tuberculosis, etc.…”

Emergency architecture. Modular construction of healthcare facilities as a response to pandemic outbreak

“…Based on that, it is recommended to utilize ventilation, which is designed individually for each unit excluding the possibility of further contamination. Studies suggest that to minimize exposure of contamination, high air change rate and low placement of openings should be considered [16][17][18]. Fig.…”