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Environment of Care

Category: Environment of Care

ePoster Kiosk Presentation

EOC 71 - Evaluating the Perception Moisture Detection Tools Have on Infection Prevention Measures for Flood and Leak Remediation

Tuesday, June 4, 2024
12:46 PM – 1:15 PM CST
Location: Kiosk 2 - APIC Central, Hall 1
Disclosure(s):
Brandon Feusner, BS, T-CHEST, T-CSCT: Vitalacy: Consultant/Advisory Board (Ongoing)
Jim Frazier, CHC: No financial relationships to disclose
Crystal Heishman, MBA, MSN, RN, ONC, CIC, CRNI, CPHQ, FAPIC: Nozin: Travel and conference fees for ID Week - Poster Presentation (Terminated, October 14, 2023)


Background: Effective management of environmental emergencies such as floods and leaks are vital for patient safety and infection prevention in healthcare settings. Historically, the evaluation of flood or leak incidents in healthcare settings primarily relied on visual inspection and the use of moisture meters. This study evaluates the impact of using a combination of moisture detection tools, like infrared cameras and moisture meters, on remediation efforts for floods and leaks, and their role in infection prevention.

Methods: A quantitative survey was distributed to healthcare staff involved in remediation efforts, assessing the effectiveness of moisture detection tools. The survey focused on ease of use, perception related to damage assessment effectiveness, impact on remediation speed, and impact on infection prevention practices.

Results: The survey received a 60% response rate with 14 out of 23 invitees responding. A significant majority (92.9%, n=13) felt that incidents with these tools were 'much better managed' compared to previous incidents without these tools. Additionally, 78.6% (n=11) observed a 'highly significant impact' on infection prevention during and after incidents. For environmental damage assessment, half of the respondents rated the tools 'very effective', while the rest found them 'somewhat effective'. Unanimously, respondents supported the continued use of these tools, with 85.7% (n=12) strongly recommending their use.

Conclusions: The feedback from the survey suggests that including the combination of these moisture detection tools with traditional methods enhances the management of floods and leaks in healthcare settings. The approval of staff highlights their confidence in the tools’ ability to accurately assess damage and improve incident management, highlighting their importance in ensuring patient safety and aiding proactive infection prevention and control practices.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn about how moisture detection tools, such as infrared cameras and moisture meters, are utilized in healthcare settings to manage environmental emergencies like floods and leaks.
  • Assess the impact and effectiveness of these tools in identifying the extent of environmental damage, as perceived by healthcare professionals involved in remediation efforts.
  • Examine how the use of moisture detection tools influences the speed of remediation processes and understand their role in enhancing infection control during and after environmental emergencies.