Hospital Epidemiological Surveillance During a Major Construction Project
Abstract
The purposes ofthis study were: a) to detennine if organism migration occurred from a construction area into other areas of the hospital-especially adjacent operating suites, b) to monitor and evaluate the incidence of construction-related surgical site infections, and c) to monitor the incidence of employee illnesses that could be construction-related. This was a descriptive correlational study and provided epidemiological data to evaluate the effectiveness of infection control measures in preventing employee or patient infections related to construction. The framework for this study was Florence Nightingale's Environmental Adaptation theory which focused on the environment and changes which could affect patient outcomes. The results of the study indicated that environmental factors during a construction project could in fact be controlled to limit construction related surgical site infection or respiratory illness in employees.