Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Issues Relevant to Extensive Floods

• Published in: Infection control and hospital epidemiology Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 200 - 206
• Main Authors: Apisarnthanarak, Anucha, Mundy, Linda M., Khawcharoenporn, Thana, Glen Mayhall, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press 01-02-2013
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Decontamination - methods; Flood control; Flood damage; Floods; Fungal spores; General aspects; Health care industry; Health Facility Closure; Hospitals; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Mold; Nursing; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Review Article; Tap water; Thailand; United States; Ventilation systems; Water pollution; Thailand; United States; Prevention; Check; Nosocomial infection; Chemoprophylaxis; Public health
• ISSN: 0899-823X; 1559-6834
• DOI: 10.1086/669094

The devastating clinical and economic implications of floods exemplify the need for effective global infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies for natural disasters. Reopening of hospitals after excessive flooding requires a balance between meeting the medical needs of the surrounding communities and restoration of a safe hospital environment. Postflood hospital preparedness plans are a key issue for infection control epidemiologists, healthcare providers, patients, and hospital administrators. We provide recent IPC experiences related to reopening of a hospital after extensive black-water floods necessitated hospital closures in Thailand and the United States. These experiences provide a foundation for the future design, execution, and analysis of black-water flood preparedness plans by IPC stakeholders.