Infection prevention and control guidelines

12. Planning a practice: design, fit-out, equipment and consumables

Overview – Planning a practice: design, fit-out, equipment and consumables

      1. Overview – Planning a practice: design, fit-out, equipment and consumables

Overview – Planning a practice: design, fit-out, equipment and consumables

It is crucial to consider infection prevention and control when planning and designing a new practice or renovating a practice building, and when planning ongoing maintenance of the site and equipment.

Aspects of building design and organisation that affect infection prevention and control include choice of surface materials for walls, floors, desks and examination/treatment tables (easy to clean), material and design of fixtures and fittings, provision of areas that can be used for isolation is needed, adequate ventilation, design of reprocessing area and storage (if practice uses reusable medical devices that require special processes), waste storage areas, placement and design of hand hygiene equipment.

Aspects of equipment set-up that affect infection prevention and control include choice of disposable versus reusable medical devices and choice of information technology hardware and telephones (ease of cleaning keyboards, handsets and other devices).

Ongoing maintenance of the building and equipment should be carried out as necessary to minimise infection risks.

The infection prevention and control coordinator should be involved in purchasing decisions about consumables, equipment, personal protective equipment, hand hygiene agents, manual or automated cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising systems, furnishings, reusable medical devices, single-use and single-patient use devices including sharps, chemicals used for environmental cleaning and disinfection, waste management systems and other relevant clinical purchases.

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