How Does the Hospital Environment Impact Susceptibility to HAIs in Special Populations?

Michael Calderwood, MD, MPH, previously an assistant hospital epidemiologist and associate director of antimicrobial stewardship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses how the hospital environment can be dangerous to special population patients.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“Something that often comes up with having new buildings being constructed is, [with] every good intention, we have people who want to put up decorative things, whether that be a green wall with plants that are going to require irrigation or a waterfall or fountain. We always have to be careful of the unintended consequences of such things in the hospital setting.

In particular, we are [constructing] buildings that are now going to be ambulatory in-patient care centers for some of our most vulnerable patients. [Therefore], We have to be thoughtful that while [decorations] are pretty, they might actually pose a risk to the patient population.”