EC 57 - Walk with Me: Results of Multidisciplinary Rounding to Reduce Infection Risk During Major Demolition

Background: Demolition of buildings adjoining a functioning acute care hospital presents unique infection prevention opportunities. We sought to identify effective measures to control dust migration from demolition of 3 multi-story buildings physically connected to our acute-care hospital.

Methods: Weekly multi-disciplinary rounding was conducted for 9 months to identify and address opportunities for effective dust mitigation during each stage of the high-risk demolition. The rounding team included representatives from Infection Prevention, Facilities, Project Management, Safety, Environmental Services, the construction company Safety Officer, and managers from affected inpatient units as needed. Findings were communicated to the project manager and hospital leadership. Outdoor dust monitoring stations and indoor particulate counts were installed and monitored. The team developed a dynamic Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) using four construction scenarios, with each scenario corresponding to a phase of the demolition and thresholds for action.

Results: Opportunities were identified to protect external air intakes, reduce outside dust, and optimize indoor containment. No sustained excursions in indoor particulate counts were identified and no adverse patient safety events were identified related to the demolition.

Conclusions: Scheduled, multi-disciplinary rounding during a major demolition project facilitates communication among project stakeholders so that infection prevention measures may be identified, reviewed and effectively implemented. Providing the construction contractor common scenarios and required thresholds for action ensured a safer care environment 24 hours a day.