QUARTOS DE ISOLAMENTO EM UNIDADES DE URGÊNCIA E EMERGÊNCIA: SINERGIA ENTRE LEGISLAÇÃO E PRÁTICA?

Abstract

The isolation room is part of a set of strategies adopted to control and prevent infections in the hospital environment. Combined with hospital techniques, it helps contain communicable diseases, protect patients, caregivers and healthcare staff. However, it is not mandatory in Emergency Departments according to current regulations. This study aimed at investigating the view of hospital architects — professional class involved in the elaboration and revision of health care standards — about the importance of providing isolation rooms in these units. The research, qualitative and exploratory, is based on literature review, which includes the analysis of international standards, and also on the compilation of semi-structured interviews with architects. For the interviewees, Architecture in the form of physical barriers is a relevant component that helps the prevention and containment of communicable diseases and the importance of the presence of isolation room in Emergency Departments was demonstrated. The study also allowed to discover obstacles faced by architects in the design of the isolation room, as well as design aspects not provided in Brazilian standards, but which may support the planning of these environments.