Articles

Fostering Collaboration Between Infection Prevention and Environmental Services
Kathy Roye-Horn, RN, CIC, is putting into action her beliefs about the importance of collaboration between infection control professionals (ICPs) and environmental services professionals (ESPs). In June, she spoke in Denver before the membership of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and this month, she will find herself in San Antonio addressing members of the American ...(More)
8/22/2008

Control... Prevent ... What's Your Purpose These Days?
Have you noticed lately that a lot of people are trying to categorize you? First, you have learned that your organization, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has given you a new name. No longer are you an infection control practitioner (ICP); now you are an infection preventionist. (And of course, there are individuals out there ...(More)
8/22/2008

Problematic Hand Sanitation Can Lead to Healthcare-Acquired Infection
In the United States, healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) afflict more than 3 million people every year. Approximately 8 percent of hospital patients acquire life-threatening infections during their stay. HAIs directly cause about 100,000 deaths annually and that number is growing rapidly due to new antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Treatment of HAIs extends patient stays an ...(More)
8/22/2008

Experts Issue Reminders on Proper Usage of Wipes to Reduce Cross-Contamination
A heightened awareness of the dangers of cross-contamination in the healthcare environment is prompting environmental services (ES) professionals and infection control practitioners (ICPs) to pay closer attention to the way antibacterial wipes are being used in facilities. A new study coming out of the United Kingdom about the ability of wipes to spread bacteria is garnering attention as well. The ...(More)
8/22/2008

Touch Screens, Keyboards and Cross-Contamination Issues
Medical devices are incorporating a greater number of touch screens these days; applications for these devices include patient/visitor information kiosks, patient medical records systems, surveillance systems, med/surge monitors, as well as touch screen monitors that are quickly replacing standard keyboard applications. Infection prevention and environmental services professionals are including these touch screens on their list of high-touch surfaces that require ...(More)
8/22/2008

Green Cleaning and Infection Control: An Expert Roundtable Discusses the Issues
Green cleaning has garnered a lot of attention over the last several years, but how appropriate is it for the healthcare environment, and is it compatible with infection prevention and control guidelines? ICT asked a number of industry experts to share their perspectives on this topic. Our roundtable participants are: • Steve Ashkin, president, The Ashkin Group, LLC • Jolynn ...(More)
8/22/2008

Dealing with Cleaning-Related Infection Control Issues Head-On
A 57-year-old man was taken to a hospital emergency room after accidentally bumping his head on a hanging pipe in a garage. To help minimize the excessive bleeding, the man’s head was immediately cleaned and then bandaged. Then, he waited for more medical attention. Like many big-city emergency departments, this one is busy throughout the day, every day. The man ...(More)
8/22/2008

CMS to Put Pressure on Providers for Decubitus Ulcer Prevention
Pressure ulcers are usually expensive, painful and preventable. They are also one of the conditions for which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not reimburse, unless it is proven that the patient had the condition upon hospital admission. This change will go into effect in October 2008, and affects reimbursement for urinary catheter infections, coronary artery bypass ...(More)
8/4/2008

Steps in the Management of Surgical Instrumentation
Key assets directly related to revenue in today’s surgery departments is the management of a vast inventory of surgical instrumentation, equipment and supplies. Instrumentation, along with rigid and flexible scopes in a 350-bed hospital with a 14-suite surgical unit, can easily exceed $5 million. The number of instrument sets can hover around 400 and account for some 10,000 or more ...(More)
8/4/2008

Downplay Sepsis at Your Peril
Sepsis is something of the redheaded stepchild in infection control – many other types of infection get more attention and resources. Ventilator-associated pneumonia and central line infections may garner more interest, but sepsis needs attention, too — it is the rabid dog sneaking up behind you while you’re focused on the tarantula in front of you. One organization tackling this ...(More)
8/4/2008

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