Hospitals apply many infection prevention and control measures. They all have one thing in common: they are individual parts of an overall concept that is aimed at preventing the spread of highly infectious and resistant pathogens in hospitals. Nevertheless, previous hygiene concepts ignore one aspect of hospitals: the architecture of the actual hospital facility itself.
In this interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Wolfgang Sunder talks about the impact architecture exerts in the spread of pathogens. He is in charge of the KARMIN project, which has studied new approaches to this issue since October 2016.
Mr. Sunder, what is the objective of the KARMIN research project?
M. Eng./ M. Arch. Wolfgang Sunder: KARMIN is a part of the "InfectControl 2020" research association, which investigates options of breaking the chain of infection. KARMIN specifically examines this issue as it pertains to hospitals. We have defined two objectives for this project: the first objective is to develop a two-bed hospital room prototype with a bathroom, all specifically designed to prevent infection. The second objective is to examine a hospital microbiome with the help of the newly renovated patient care high-rise building of the Charité Berlin. We analyze the resettlement of pathogens at a hospital with a focus on architectural aspects. For example, we are comparing single-bed patient rooms with shared rooms. ...
Read the complete interview at MEDICA-tradefair.com!