Sponsored CLOROX HEALTHCARE /ARKRAY USA Don’t let your customers be part of that crowd. Every healthcare setting is a place of healing. Ironically, it is also a gathering spot for infectious agents, which can threaten the well-being of residents. That’s particularly true in the long-term care setting. In the United States, more than 15,700 long-term care facilities … [Read more...]
June 2019
Click Here to Read (w link to pdf) Infection Prevention: Progress, Not Perfection The trends look promising, but there’s room for improvement A new threat: Candida auris Manufacturers’ perspectives Inpatient infections PUBLISHER’S NOTE Little Bugs, Big Picture NDC celebrates ‘Power of Partnership’ Henry Schein … [Read more...]
Infection among the elderly
The following factors contribute to infections among the geriatric population, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Limited physiologic reserve. Defects in host defenses. Higher rates of coexistent chronic diseases (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Increased risk of poor nutrition. Loss of functionality … [Read more...]
Water works
Everyone knows that good hand hygiene – including hand washing and donning gloves – is important in preventing infections in healthcare settings. So is the infrastructure that supports it – sinks, faucets and soap and alcohol rub dispensers. Here are some things you might not know about water and related topics, as they pertain to healthcare-acquired infections. The … [Read more...]
C.A.U.T.I. intervention
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are costly and potentially life-threatening for long-term-care residents, and were identified as one of five priority areas in Phase Three of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections. An estimated 7 percent to 10 percent of all long-term-care … [Read more...]
Infection prevention takes a team
Relationships among team members are key to successful infection prevention in the long-term-care setting, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Strong staff relationships lead to more excitement and support among the staff participating in the program, while weak or nonexistent relationships mean that staff will not participate in the same way or will … [Read more...]
Point Person
Come November, Repertoire readers in the long-term-care market may find themselves calling on a new decision-maker. Effective Nov. 28, long-term-care facilities will be required to have in place at least one infection preventionist, that is someone for whom the facility’s infection prevention and control program is a major (though not necessarily full-time) responsibility. … [Read more...]
Manufacturers’ perspectives
Several manufacturers recently offered their perspectives to Repertoire on progress in reducing healthcare-acquired infections (as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), as well as on those areas where more work is needed. “There is no doubt that patients are overall safer compared to a few years ago,” says Megan DiGiorgio MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, clinical … [Read more...]
Infection prevention takes a team
Relationships among team members are key to successful infection prevention in the long-term-care setting, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Strong staff relationships lead to more excitement and support among the staff participating in the program, while weak or nonexistent relationships mean that staff will not participate in the same way or will … [Read more...]
Inpatient infections
Inpatient infections Among hospital inpatients, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) lead to the loss of tens of thousands of lives and cost the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars each year. These factors raise the risk of HAIs: Catheters (bloodstream, endotracheal, and urinary). Surgery Injections Healthcare settings that aren’t properly cleaned … [Read more...]