| Keywords |
Emergency room ; Plan design ; Airborne infection ; Design factors |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study is to analyze the design factors relating airborne infection in emergency rooms and find the required improvements. The architectural features in the main areas such as triage area, general treatment area, examine or testing area and waiting area are investigated in seven selected emergency rooms. As results, at first, triage area, general treatment area which seem to be open plan space are most likely weak in the respect of airborne infection, expecially in small emergency rooms. Secondly, the insufficient clearance between beds causes transmission of droplet nuclei and increase airborne infection risk. Consequently, physical separation between spaces or appropriate clearance between beds are suggested. If the physical separation is impossible, airflow control is required to prevent dispersion of droplet nuclei. |