Part I. Background Information: Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities

A. Introduction

B. Key Terms Used in this Guideline

C. Air

1. Modes of Transmission of Airborne Diseases
2. Airborne Infectious Diseases in Health-Care Facilities
3. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems in Health-Care Facilities
4. Construction, Renovation, Remediation, Repair,and Demolition
5. Environmental Infection-Control Measures for Special Health-Care Settings
6. Other Aerosol Hazards in Health-Care Facilities

D. Water

1. Modes of Transmission of Waterborne Diseases
2. Waterborne Infectious Diseases in Health-Care Facilities
3. Water Systems in Health-Care Facilities
4. Strategies for Controlling Waterborne Microbial Contamination
5. Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers
6. Dialysis Water Quality and Dialysate
7. Ice Machines and Ice
8. Hydrotherapy Tanks and Pools
9. Miscellaneous Medical/Dental Equipment Connected to Main Water Systems

E. Environmental Services

1. Principles of Cleaning and Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces
2. General Cleaning Strategies for Patient-Care Areas
3. Cleaning Strategies for Spills of Blood and Body Substances
4. Carpeting and Cloth Furnishings
5. Flowers and Plants in Patient-Care Areas
6. Pest Control
7. Special Pathogen Concerns

F. Environmental Sampling

1. General Principles: Microbiologic Sampling of the Environment
2. Air Sampling
3. Water Sampling
4. Environmental Surface Sampling

G. Laundry and Bedding

1. General Information
2. Epidemiology and General Aspects of Infection Control
3. Collecting, Transporting, and Sorting Contaminated Textiles and Fabrics
4. Parameters of the Laundry Process
5. Special Laundry Situations
6. Surgical Gowns, Drapes, and Disposable Fabrics
7. Antimicrobial-Impregnated Articles and Consumer Items Bearing Antimicrobial Labeling
8. Standard Mattresses, Pillows, and Air-Fluidized Beds

H. Animals in Health-Care Facilities

1. General Information
2. Animal-Assisted Activities, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Resident Animals
3. Service Animals
4. Animals as Patients in Human Health-Care Facilities
5. Research Animals in Health-Care Facilities

I. Regulated Medical Waste

1. Epidemiology
2. Categories of Medical Waste
3. Management of Regulated Medical Waste in Health-Care Facilities
4. Treatment of Regulated Medical Waste
5. Discharging Blood, Fluids to Sanitary Sewers or Septic Tanks
6. Medical Waste and CJD