Construction, redevelopment and the built environment
What to know
Infection prevention and control is a key priority during construction and redevelopment of Queensland Health healthcare facilities. Integrating infection prevention and control professional expertise is essential to reduce infection prevention and control risks associated with construction, redevelopment, and the built environment and to support the safe delivery of health services. Infection prevention and control professional engagement and consultation must occur at all stages of the Queensland Health infrastructure project lifecycle and during maintenance projects for tasks that disrupt walls, ceilings, duct spaces, and/or creates dust.
Failure to control infection prevention and control risks during these activities can expose patients, staff, visitors, and other system users to infection-related harm and outbreaks and/or lead to the need for expensive redesign after a detailed design phase or post-commissioning. All building, refurbishment, and maintenance activities within and around a healthcare facility should incorporate a formal approach to risk management.
About this guideline
The Construction, redevelopment, and the built environment – integration of infection prevention and control principles guideline (PDF 530 kB) provides the key infection prevention and control principles which should be adhered to during any task that disrupts walls, ceilings, duct spaces, and/or creates dust.
The following resources have been developed to support guideline implementation:
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Building and Refurbishment Works Checklist (PDF 967 kB)
- Construction action plan compliance audit (PDF 1061 kB)
Clinician guideline
The reference guide for clinicians can be found in the Construction, redevelopment and the built environment guideline.
Information for consumers
The Construction and Renovation: Consumer guide has been developed to provide patients with information regarding staying well construction or renovation of healthcare facilities.
- Construction and renovation consumer guide (PDF 183 kB)
Evidence statement
The content on this page is informed by the Construction, redevelopment and the built environment - Integration of infection prevention and control principles guideline (PDF 530 kB). As such, this content is not directly referenced for ease of reading. Detail on the evidence base and recommendations are available in the guideline.
Related links
Queensland Health resources
- Queensland Health Queensland Health Design Principles (internal Queensland Health link)
- Queensland Health Queensland Health Design Assurance Framework (internal Queensland Health link)
- Queensland Health Strategic Asset Management Plan Framework
- Water risk management, refer to Water risk management in healthcare facilities
- Queensland Infection Clinical Network Infection prevention recommendations to strengthen facilities design in Queensland Health (internal Queensland Health link)
Queensland Government resources
- Queensland Government Building Policy Guideline
- Queensland Government Building and Construction Code of Practice
- Queensland Government Best practice principles: Quality, safe workplaces
Australasian Health Facility Guidelines
- Australasian Health Facility Guidelines
- Australasian Health Facility Guidelines Part D: Infection Prevention and Control
- Capital Infrastructure Requirements Volumes 1–4 (internal Queensland Health link)
- Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Healthcare Optimising ventilation for infection prevention and control in healthcare settings Recommended additional supporting resources
Other states and jurisdictions
- Department of Health & Human Services Infection Control Principles for the Management of Construction, Renovation, Repairs and Maintenance within Health Care Facilities: A Manual for Reducing the Risk of Health Care Associated Infection by Dust and Water Borne Micro-organisms
- Government of Western Australia Microbiological Air Sampling of the Perioperative Environment in Western Australian Healthcare Facilities
International resources
- Department of Health NHS Health Building Note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment (England.nhs.UK)
- Institute of Air Quality Management Indoor air quality guidance: assessment, monitoring, modelling and mitigation. Version 10
- National Protection Surveillance Centre Scientific Advisory Committee National Guidelines for the Prevention of Nosocomial Aspergillus
- The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Infection Prevention Manual for Construction & Renovation
- Total Alliance Health Partners International (TAHPI) (2022) International Health Facility Guidelines Part D: Version 6
- World Health Organization Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19
- World Health Organization Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings (2009) APIC State-of-the-Art Report: The role of infection control during construction in health care facilities
- World Health Organization Mould
Useful readings
- Chapter 24: Construction, redevelopment, and the built environment. In Shaban R, Mitchell B, Macbeth D, Russo P. Healthcare-Associated Infections in Australia. 1st Edition. Elsevier; 2023. Available via CKN. (internal Queensland Health link)