Masking of neutropenic patients on transport from hospital rooms is associated with a decrease in nosocomial aspergillosis during construction.
To prevent nosocomial pulmonary aspergillosis during hospital construction, neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancy were required to wear high-efficiency masks when leaving their rooms. The rate of nosocomial aspergillosis decreased from 0.73 per 1,000 hospital patient-days during fiscal years 1993 to 1996 to 0.24 per 1,000 hospital patient-days during fiscal years 1996 to 1999 (P < .001). High-efficiency masks reduced nosocomial aspergillosis during hospital construction.
Raad
Issam
I
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Hanna
Hend
H
Osting
Cheryl
C
Hachem
Ray
R
Umphrey
Jan
J
Tarrand
Jeffrey
J
Kantarjian
Hagop
H
Bodey
Gerald P
GP
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D009503:Neutropenia; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods*
D000393:Air Pollutants