Evaluation of the Potential for Hospital Acquired Infection from Live Plants in a Health Facility Atrium

Abstract

Live plants are popular in buildings for their beauty and the natural feel they bring to the indoor environment. Benefits to building occupants may include reduced stress and increased task performance. For a typical commercial building, the presence of plants has a positive effect on perceived employee health and reduced employee absenteeism. In a health care facility, the presence of living plants brings a concern of potential increased risk of HAI from microbial pathogens associated with the live plants. Our goal was to reach an evidence-based decision balancing any increased risk of infection with the perceived benefits provided by live plants in the building atrium. To asses the risks of patient infection, samples were collected to determine if potentially infectious organisms were present on the plants and in the soil, and if so, the degree to which any of these organisms became airborne.