While they may be beautiful, they aren’t a healthy option for patient care environments. Whether it is a tile, vinyl or other product, grouts and seams can become a breeding ground for dirt and pathogens. Notably, there are a number of products and applications to avoid: The worst flooring for bacteria mitigationĬhoosing the wrong flooring solution for healthcare facilities can help the spread of bacteria, according to Cleaning and Maintenance Management magazine. It also noted the effectiveness of using nonporous and impermeable flooring and techniques such as coving in right-angled joints between the floor and the wall. But paramount among the needs is reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections.Ī study on evidence-based design practices in hospitals commissioned by The Center for Health Design’s (CHD) Research Coalition noted that hospitals should not use carpet in areas where spills are common, or where airborne pathogens are most dangerous. Among them: reducing the risk of slips and falls, masking hallway noise, providing cushioning to reduce staff fatigue, incorporating colors and designs that enhance wayfinding, and minimizing VOC emissions. Hospital facility managers must balance many needs when choosing the best flooring for a new or remodeled healthcare facility. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that floors aren’t always a focus of disinfection efforts because they aren’t considered high-touch surfaces - but nonetheless, floors are an “underappreciated source for dissemination of pathogens.” The value of evidence-based hospital flooring It also noted that “pathogens on hospital floors can rapidly move to the hands and high-touch surfaces throughout a hospital room.” A 2017 study published in the American Journal of Infection Control said hospital room floors may be an overlooked source of infection. Long before COVID-19, researchers identified floors as a key potential contributor to hospital-acquired infections. Why hospital floors contribute to infection The fact is that a hospital’s flooring choices can have a direct impact on its ability to mitigate hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). But hospitals would be wise to look underfoot as well. There’s been lots of focus on controlling the airborne spread of contagions. Hospitals are facing unprecedented challenges: treating a pandemic that is highly contagious while providing a safe, infection-free care environment for non-COVID-19 patients, hospital staff and visitors as they are allowed to return. The mandate for hospital infection control has never been more pronounced than today. By Bill Imhoff, President & Chief Executive Officer at Intertech Flooring / W.E.
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