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                        JeffNEWS, January 10, 1995
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To Help Curb Infections, Hospital Now Has 22 Patient Isolation Rooms With
Improved `Negative' Air Pressure Systems
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As part of Jefferson Hospital's continuous efforts to enhance ways we
care for our patients and protect our staff and employees, 22 patient
isolation rooms in Gibbon are now equipped with improved "negative" air
pressure systems to significantly help curb potential spread of
infectious disease. 

Fourteen general care isolation rooms were in service this fall,
followed by eight Intensive Care Unit isolation rooms, in December,
reports Susan Milner, director of space development for patient
programs. 

"Negative" air pressure means the direction of air ventilating a patient
room is reversed, flowing from the corridor to the patient room instead
of the conventional "neutral or slightly positive" flow from room to
corridor, Ms. Milner explains.

"The reason for reversing the air flow is to curb any possible airborne
spread of infectious disease from a room to staff or other patients,"
explains Sheila A. Murphey, MD, infection control officer, TJUH. "The
rooms with improved `negative' air flow are for patients requiring
isolation because of highly infectious diseases such as chicken pox or
tuberculosis."

The newly equipped rooms also are in compliance with recently issued CDC
guidelines and anticipated OSHA standards on minimizing spread of
tuberculosis, Dr. Murphey points out.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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