Infection control considerations during construction activities: land excavation and demolition

Because current trends in hospital restructuring in North America, amalgamations and mergers, and the aging of health care facilities, the need to restructure physical buildings has become greater. Hospital construction carries with it risks to patients. One key concern is the risk of aspergillosis associated with hospital construction. Infection control practitioners must consider some key factors when addressing land excavation and building demolition, which differ in some ways from construction that occurs within a health care facility. The key factors to consider are project concept, risk assessment of patients, procedures and environment, air quality, routes of entry and egress, soil management, conducting inspections, contingency planning, housekeeping, and lines of cooperation and communication with various stakeholders. Considering these areas will help ensure that health care facility personnel and the workers have exercised diligence in patient care.