Essential environmental health standards in health care
Edited by John Adams, Jamie Bartram, Yves Chartier
World Health Organization, 2008, 57 p.
Health–care associated infections affect between 5 and 30% of patients. The associated burden of disease is extremely high, and is a significant drain on health-sector resources and households. Ensuring safe environmental health conditions in health care can reduce the transmission of health care associated infections. This not only applies for health care institutions, but also for home-based care.
This document provides guidance on essential environmental health standards required for health care in medium- and low-resource countries and support the development and implementation of national policies.
These guidelines have been written for use by health managers and planners, architects, urban planners, water and sanitation staff, clinical and nursing staff, carers and other health-care providers, and health promoters.
These guidelines deal specifically with water supply (water quality, quantity and access), excreta disposal, drainage, health-care waste management, cleaning and laundry, food storage and preparation, control of vector-borne disease, building design (including ventilation), construction and management, and hygiene promotion. They are designed primarily for use in health-care settings in precarious situations, and in situations where simple and affordable measures can improve hygiene and health significantly.
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