Recognising design’s role in reducing HAIs

The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic of 2003, and increasingly frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Clostridium difficile, and legionellosis, have coincided with a sweeping provincial healthcare infrastructure renewal initiative in Ontario. 

This confluence of events propelled a sudden meaningful and practical response to one of the greatest threats to Canada’s healthcare system. Policymakers, the building industry, and healthcare professionals, have entered into a new conversation about the design of healthcare facilities. The result is a significant re-evaluation of current practices, with the goal of reducing the risk of transmission of infectious diseases among the highest concentration of immunocompromised individuals – those in healthcare facilities. 

In March 2013, Niagara Health System’s new St. Catharines Hospital in St Catharines, Ontario, not only opened its doors, but also opened a window on the future of healthcare in Canada. It is one of the first hospitals to be built in response to growing concerns around the spread of ‘superbugs’. The nearly one million ft2 facility contains extensive anti-infection safeguards, and is considered one of the most advanced hospital designs in Canada when it comes to infection prevention and control. With the implementation of these measures, however, other important implications emerged.