Microorganisms in the environment of old and new patient rooms

Rationale: Demonstrating that relocation of patients from multiple occupancy rooms in an old hospital to single bedrooms in a new hospital will have a significant positive effect on the bacterial contamination of the patient rooms, and hence on the number of patients infected/colonized with resistant and/or susceptible microorganisms.
Objective: Study the effect of the new environment on patient safety, in terms of contamination, colonization and infection, as compared to the old situation and the environmental risk factors for both environments.
Study design: the design is a prospective interventional before-after study. Data will be recorded and analyzed retrospectively. Admitted patients and the environment of the old and the new building of the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Netherlands, will be prospectively cultured to identify presence of highly resistant microorganisms (HRMO).
Study population: patients from selected departments at the old and new hospital. Rooms and bathrooms at the old and new hospital. All clinical samples before and after the move, send to the medical microbiology laboratory of the Erasmus MC from departments that are moving to the new building i.e. all specialties/buildings except the Sophia children’s hospital .
Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study endpoint is to show a significant difference between the old and new building, in terms of contamination, colonization and infections with highly resistant microorganisms.
Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: There is no burden, neither are risks, associated with participation in this study. The nose and perineal area samples may be considered as an additional to normal diagnostic procedure, but can cause no harm for the patient. Results of the study test will not be communicated with either the patient or the medical doctor. Therefore results of the study will not interfere with the treatment.

A hospital with solely single patient rooms and private bathrooms will have a significant positive effect on the bacterial contamination of the patient rooms and hence on the number of patients infected/colonized with resistant an/or susceptible microorganisms.

The relocation was at 18-05-2018.
Patient inclusion started at 1-1-18 and ended at 31-8-19.

The relocation of the hospital