Patients in a healthcare facility have an increased risk of acquiring an infection. This is because they usually have health problems, are often older and/or must undergo (or have undergone) treatments or interventions. For these reasons, patients like these are frequently given antibiotics. One of the reasons why resistant bacteria are more common in healthcare facilities. Patients in healthcare facilities stay in close quarters, which makes it easy for these bacteria to spread during the a provision of care. Good hygiene is therefore essential. This can prevent infections and reduce the need for doctors to prescribe antibiotics. This is necessary because infections with resistant bacteria can have serious consequences for people, especially people with vulnerable health. Consequently, guidelines have been drawn up for antibiotics use in healthcare.

Identification and surveillance

To protect ourselves against antimicrobial resistance, we need to know how often and where highly resistant micro-organisms (HRMOs) occur and what the trends are in this regard. RIVM collects and analyses these data systematically. This surveillance allows RIVM to monitor antibiotics use and the number of infections with resistant bacteria. The data are collected from healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. Based on these data, we can see how many antibiotics are being used, which bacteria occur where, whether they are increasing or decreasing in number and if any new types are emerging.

Isolation room of the future

Patients who carry bacteria that are resistant to certain antibiotics are placed in a private room in hospital: the isolation room. However, RIVM research shows that these patients often feel lonely and stigmatised. In addition, they are often bothered by the fact that they have little contact with nurses and others. Nurses themselves say they feel guilty because they are often unable to provide these patients with the care they would like to give.
We want to improve this! That is why we have designed the isolation room of the future to improve the experience for healthcare workers as well as patients. A few highlights:

• A glass wall (facilitates communication between nurses and patients and allows for care at a distance)
• Natural elements and daylight lamps (help to create a healing environment for the patient)
• A tablet (for communication, information, ordering meals etc.)

For a 3D scale model or a negligible risk (NR) experience of the isolation room of the future, contact amr@rivm.nl.