APIC state-of-the-art report: The role of infection control during construction in health care facilities

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, In c (APIC). is a multidisciplinary organization of more than 12,000 health ca re professionals who practice infection control and epidemiology within a v ariety of health care settings. This report reviews issues the infection control professional should consid er related to construction and renovation projects in health care facilitie s. Preventing transmission of infectious agents to vulnerable patient popul ations, health care workers. and visitors remains an important component of infection control programs. Environmental dispersal of microorganisms duri ng construction, resulting in nosocomial infections, has been described pre viously, and select examples are provided in Table I as a reminder that the re is a solid, scientific basis for these concerns. Environmental airborne contaminants and infectious agents are closely related to water and moistur e-related conditions and figure prominently in construction activity. Weems et al have established construction activity as an independent variable fo r infectious risks in such circumstances. Construction-related outbreak lit erature will not be revisited in detail; however, pertinent citations will identify resources as appropriate.