The University of Chicago’s enter for Care and Discovery plays host to the Hospital Microbiome Project, a program in which scientists study how facility design and environmental factors affect patient-threatening bacteria. Four hospitals in the area also participate in the Chicago Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention Epicenter, one of five research programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program recently publicized its ability to slash rates of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections, which the hospitals accomplished by isolating infected patients, requiring healthcare workers to treat them using personal protective equipment, and bathing them in a specialized antiseptic.
For the Hospital Microbiome Project, scientists began by collecting DNA data while the hospital’s new Center for Care and Discovery was under construction, then documented how the building’s microscopic life changed once it opened. They then focused on 10 patient rooms spanning two floors, using sensors to measure bacterial growth. The scientists have already discovered a host of factors that affect the kinds of bacteria patients encounter in hospitals — including ventilation, humidity levels, the type of material counter tops and other surfaces are made of, and even the presence of windows and cellphones. With this data, the researchers will be able to recommend design changes to lessen exposure to dangerous pathogens and heighten exposure to protective bacteria in patient rooms.
Follow this link for more information on this innovative research project.
This article is an update of a previous post.