Articles
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Waterborne Disease
08/02/2011
Emerging Infectious Disease
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By Angela Krile
According to a study published in the November 2010 New England Journal of Medicine, patient safety issues persist in hospitals across the country. The study concluded that, as a nation, we have made little progress since the Institute of Medicine’s landmark report in 1999, To Err is Human, which put a [...] -
Pandemic Preparedness Review
07/11/2011
Emerging Infectious Diseases
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by Wava Truscott, PhD
The 2009 H1N1 pandemic was not the catastrophic global event many government agencies, healthcare overseers and hospital officials feared. At the time, however, there was every indication it had the potential to be a worldwide disaster. Looking back, was it all just a massively expensive response spurred on by fear [...] -
MRSA
07/11/2011
Threats in Healthcare Settings
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MRSA in Healthcare Settings
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This type of bacteria causes “staph” infections that are resistant to treatment with usual antibiotics. MRSA occurs most frequently among patients who undergo invasive medical procedures or who have weakened immune systems and are being treated in hospitals and healthcare facilities such [...] -
Medical Waste Dangers in Healthcare
07/08/2011
Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Heavy metals, sharps, cleaners, blood, blood products and other infectious materials, are abundant in hospital stings.. The risk for infection and cross-contamination exists in every area of every hospital. Wet or soiled dressings, devices used in diagnostics and treatment, and surfaces such as doorknobs, floors and toilets can all act as vehicles for [...] -
Preventing Pertussis
07/07/2011
Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Pertussis is the most common vaccine-preventable childhood disease and can be more severe than often assumed. Most pertussis-related deaths occur in infants younger than 4 months. All infants less than 6 months of age, and any infant who has not yet received three doses of pertussis-containing vaccine, are especially vulnerable to pertussis infection [...] -
Urinary Tract Infections
07/05/2011
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for 40 percent of all healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Urinary catheters are associated with the vast majority of those healthcare-acquired UTIs.(1) Floyd Medical Center is utilizing the ERASE CAUTI Foley catheter management system along with facility-wide physician and [...] -
Surgical Errors
07/04/2011
Sponges Left Behind
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by William W. Steward, MD
The most commonly reported surgical error is retained surgical sponges? The February 2011 edition of The Joint Commission Journal for Quality and Patient Safety includes the publication of a comprehensive, independent research study on what is estimated to be the most commonly reported surgical error is retained surgical sponges.
According [...] -
Dangers of Medical Waste
06/29/2011
Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Medical waste poses a wide spread threat throughout a hospital facility. Workers and patients are surrounded by heavy metals, sharps, cleaners, blood, blood products and other infectious materials The list is endless. The potential for infection and cross-contamination exists in every area of the hospital. Wet or soiled dressings, devices used in diagnostics [...] -
Vascular Access Safety
06/29/2011
The Accelerated Seldinger Technique
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By Ron Stoker
The over-wire technique of catheter insertion that offers considerable advantages over the standard techniques that were available at that time In 1953, Dr. Sven Ivar Seldinger (1921-1999), an innovative radiologist, described an over-wire technique of catheter insertion that offered considerable advantages over the standard techniques that were available at that [...] -
Hazardous Waste in Medical Settings
05/12/2011
<Re-posted>
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The Safe Disposal of High-Level Disinfectants: Dumping Medical Disinfectant Waste is Dangerous
by Philip Coles
In some areas of the country it is illegal to dispose of used OPA and glutaraldehyde into a Publicly Owned Treatment Works without first neutralizing. The manufacturer of OPA has informed Department of Toxic Substances Control that the solution at use-dilution (failed [...] -
Norovirus Outbreaks
05/11/2011
<Re-posted>
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Healthcare Facility-associated Infections
By Lillian Burns, MT, MPH, CIC
Norovirus, commonly called the “stomach flu,” is a highly contagious viral infection that can affect anyone. The norovirus infection causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, inducing common symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pains. Symptoms can last from one to three days and there is no [...] -
Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Rates
03/26/2011
STD, Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention
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Studies find that women and blacks were most likely to be infected with Herpes Simplex Virus. As with other STDs, biological factors may make women more susceptible. African-Americans are at greater risk of being exposed to herpes with any given sexual encounter due to racial and social disparities.
About 1 in 6 [...] -
Lyme Disease Outbreaks
03/24/2011
Understanding Lyme Disease Transmission
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If left untreated, Lyme Disease infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Most cases of Lyme disease can [...] -
Salmonella Bacteria Infection
03/24/2011
Salmonella Transmission
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Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection [...] -
Tuberculosis
03/20/2011
The spread of Tuberculosis is again increasing. The frequency of reported outbreaks is on the rise. TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these [...]
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Measles Outbreak Update
03/17/2011
Vaccine Preventable Deaths
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Measles remains a common disease in many parts of the world. Measles is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among young children. 2010 measles activity includes outbreaks in several countries in southern Africa. Over the past year, high numbers of measles cases have been reported in many countries, including Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, [...] -
West Nile Outbreaks
03/17/2011
Disease severity and frequency
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West Nile Virus is now an important public health problem in North America. Peak incidence of human disease in North America occurs in late August and early September. Since the mid-1990s, the frequency and apparent clinical severity of West Nile Virus outbreaks have increased. Outbreaks in Romania (1996), Russia (1999) and Israel [...] -
Waterborne Disease
03/16/2011
Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Emerging infectious diseases carried through water cost Americans $500 million each year. Water related diseases such as Legionnaires’ disease are rising each year. Hospitalizations caused from the spread of disease through water are an increasing risk to Americans and to the health care system. Extended hospitalizations can result from waterborne disease. These are [...] -
Moving Labor and Delivery into the 21st Century
02/11/2011
Reducing bloodborne pathogen exposures
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by Ron Stoker
Every now and then, something comes along to change the way we look at a certain medical procedures. It changes the way we work and makes us look in the mirror and reevaluate our methods and keeps us safer than we were before. Some medical procedures are complex with complex [...] -
CS Specialist
02/11/2011
Set your intention to help coworkers achieve and maintain CS certification status
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by Cynthia Hubbard, RN, BS
Intention
Intention: a purpose or goal; aim (Collins English Dictionary-Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition 2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.)
Many of us feel a new energy and optimism this time of year. This is the second month of [...] -
Food Safety Legislation
02/11/2011
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
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The food safety law passed by Congress on December 21, 2010 aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to contamination to preventing it. Key facts about this legislation are presented below.
Key Facts
The burden of foodborne illness is [...] -
OR Safety Continues to be a Concern for OR Team Members
02/11/2011
Next generation of sharps safety
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by Charlotte Guglielmi, RN, BSN, MA, CNOR
Nurses and healthcare providers across the country recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA). The Act, which requires employers to track sharps injuries and to provide safer sharps devices, including self-covering needles, was designed to protect the well-being of [...] -
CS Specialist
02/11/2011
Evolution of sterilization technologies
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Cynthia Hubbard, RN, BS
Opportunity
Opportunity: a favorable juncture of circumstances; a good chance for advancement or progress (©2010 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated).
Happy New Year! It’s a fresh start … with unlimited possibilities. We had a fast-paced December and are ready for what may be next on the scene. Advances in science leading to new [...] -
The Global Significance of Sterile Processing
02/11/2011
Mercy Ships and MDD Consulting partner on sterile processing training
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by Michele DeMeo, Alison Brieseman and Ginger Henry
Sterile processing is increasingly recognized as an imperative component of healthcare here in the United States. During the past 40 or so years, there have been many changes. Sterile processing is becoming significantly integrated within the entire [...] -
Communication Imperative
11/30/2010
Working with environmental services to improve infection control efforts
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by David Collette
A recent Cintas Corporation study of infection prevention professionals during the 2010 APIC Conference revealed that the relationship between the infection control (IC) and environmental services (EVS) departments is good but can be better. Only 42 percent of respondents strongly agreed that they work closely [...] -
Preventing the Spread of Healthcare-Associated Infections
11/30/2010
The importance of daily surface disinfection in reducing the spread of HAIs
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by Ruth M. Carrico, PhD, RN, CIC
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in the death of more people annually than AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined 1 According to research, the cost of [...] -
CS Specialist
11/30/2010
TASS prevention
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Cynthia Hubbard, RN, BS
Graditude
Gratitude: a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation, as for gifts or favors (Collins English Dictionary—Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition 2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.)
According to Cicero, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others.” Multiple studies have shown the correlation [...] -
Microbiology Laboratory Risk Assessment of Blood Culture Bottle Breakage
11/30/2010
Plastic culture bottles as an alternative to conventional glass
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by Ron Stoker
Microbiology laboratory personnel are at increased risk for bloodborne pathogens because of their contact with blood and other body fluids. Most exposures are caused by percutaneous injuries with sharp objects, such as broken glass or needlesticks, that are contaminated with blood or body fluids (Romea [...] -
More Resources Available for Infection Preventionists
11/30/2010
Infection Preventionist Boot Camp, essentials for the beginner infection preventionist
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by Peggy Luebbert, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, CHSP and Ron Stoker, MS
In last month’s article we started the discussion about the myriad of resources that are available for infection preventionists. This month we will continue with additional resources that can assist you in understanding and performing the [...] -
The Jungle of Resources Available for Infection Preventionists
11/03/2010
Infection Preventionist Boot Camp, essentials for the beginner infection preventionist
by Peggy Luebbert, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, CHSP and Ron Stoker, MS
As the two of us have worked on the Infection Preventionist Boot Camp, we were excited to be able to share the variety of resources available to assist new infection preventionists in their work.Mentoring
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When we [...] -
Copper as an Antimicrobial
11/03/2010
Reducing hospital-acquired infections
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by Jeri L. Steele, RN
Introduction
Copper is essential to the development of all forms of life and is naturally present in the earth’s crust. It is the oldest metal used by man, with the first copper coins dating from 8700 B.C. As the best electrical conductor, of all the metals, for energy generation, distribution [...] -
Biological Agents and Public Health
08/31/2010
Preparing for the threat of a bio-event
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by Dr. Howard Levitin, MD, FACEP
More than eight years after the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks, the United States is still unprepared to respond to the threat of large-scale bioterrorism, according to a recent report from a congressionally appointed commission.1 In the report the White House and Congress were given [...] -
Appropriate Glove Selection and Use
08/31/2010
Clinical considerations for perioperative personnel
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Linda McNeilly
In the healthcare environment, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a key factor in the prevention of transmissible infection for both healthcare workers and patients. Medical gloves are among the most frequently used items of PPE and are one of the most important infection prevention products.
Years ago, [...] -
Influencing Hand Hygiene Compliance at Spectrum Health
08/31/2010
by David Maxfield and David Dull, MD
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the United States, two million people suffer each year from hospital-acquired infections (HAI).1 Of these patients, some experts estimate that as many as 90,000 die annually. Leading researchers and industry regulators have long established that the most effective [...] -
World Congress on Vascular Access
08/31/2010
Sharing knowledge and bringing vascular access to a higher level
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by Ron Stoker
I recently had the opportunity of speaking at the World Congress on Vascular Access (WoCoVA) that was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was a great opportunity to speak to the movers and shakers of prestigious group of clinicians. This first meeting of WoCoVA [...] -
Clostridium difficile: Persistent Challenge … Promising Solutions
08/31/2010
by Wava M. Truscott, PhD, MBA, and Fran Walsh, PhD
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Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a huge and growing global challenge with more than 1.4 million cases of HAI at any given time across the world. These persistent infections lead to at least 80,000 deaths, or 200 a day, in the United States alone, with a price [...] -
Instruct, Coach or Mentor?
08/31/2010
Infection Preventionist Boot Camp, essentials for the beginner infection preventionist
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by Peggy Prinz Luebbert, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, CHSP and Ron Stoker
As we were developing our Infection Preventionist Boot Camp webinar on “IP Resources,” I asked my local APIC members at a recent meeting as to what resources they commonly used to do their jobs. After the [...] -
Best Practices for Instrument Cleaning
08/31/2010
Achieving a consistent level of performance
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by Sanat Mohanty
According to a 2008 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 46 million surgical procedures performed each year, including approximately five million gastrointestinal endoscopies. Consider the number of surgical instruments used and it becomes clear they are a major investment for [...] -
CS Specialist
08/31/2010
Be a good one
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
One of my favorite quotes is from Abraham Lincoln: “Whatever you are, be a good one.” There is a lot of wisdom in those words. Those of us that work in central service understand the importance of doing a good job. Peoples’ well-being depends on us and a [...] -
Combat Surgical-Site Infections Before they Enter Your Facility
07/13/2010
Implement an effective and easy home general skin cleansing regimen
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by Rhonda Lemmo, RN, CNOR, MBA
Human skin is an amazing, complicated organ. Most of us don’t realize it weighs eight pounds, measures 22 square feet or manufactures vitamin D that turns calcium into healthy bones. Skin enables us to move and “feel” through endless nerves, [...] -
Colonization and Outbreaks: Use of Laboratory Testing
07/13/2010
Infection Preventionist Boot Camp, essentials for the beginner infection preventionist
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by Peggy Prinz Luebbert, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, CHSP and Ron Stoker
The clinical laboratory is an essential component of any investigation by your facility’s infection prevention program. Laboratory personnel have a broad range of technologies from traditional methods of detecting and identifying organisms to modern molecular typing [...] -
Understanding Facial Protection
07/13/2010
What to know and what to wear
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by Scott Harrison
In operating rooms (ORs) across the United States, there are countless boxes of facemasks sitting on scrub sinks—all varying to some degree from the box just beside it. Some masks have foam, while others have tape. Some come with shields, while others do not. Flat construction. Bill [...] -
The Use of Glass in Hospital Laboratories
07/13/2010
Clinician survey on glass safety
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by Ron Stoker
My father-in-law recently succumbed to a sepsis infection. He languished in the intensive care unit for about a month before he passed away. I was grateful for the men and women who took care of him during that time period. I had many discussions with them about the products [...] -
CS Specialist
07/13/2010
Consistency
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
I love small towns, Mom and Pop businesses, restaurants and diners that serve a small niche. Franchises and corporations deliver predictable and valuable goods and services and I am glad they are here, but I have a soft spot in my heart for “small.”
Maybe it’s because I grew up in a [...] -
Norovirus in Healthcare Settings
07/13/2010
Prevention and control
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by Kirsten M. Thompson and Ruth L. Petran
Background
Noroviruses (previously known as Norwalk-like viruses) are widely known for causing outbreaks of illness among large numbers of people on cruise ships. Since the original Norwalk virus was identified in 1968, there has been increasing recognition of norovirus as an agent of viral gastroenteritis traced to [...] -
Employee Safety in the OR
07/13/2010
Taking safety into your own hands
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by Linda McNeilly
The operating room (OR) is a unique practice environment that, by its nature, places staff members at higher risk for certain exposure incidents and injuries. To eliminate the risk of both, healthcare workers must take safety into their own hands.
It’s imperative for surgical staff to understand the risk [...] -
Better Together
07/13/2010
Focusing on processes and compliance to prevent hospital-acquired infections
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by Lorri Downs, RN, BSN, MS, CIC
When bacteria lurking on, for instance, a medical device, a bed rail, a bandage or a caregiver’s hands find their way into a patient’s body via a surgical wound, a catheter, a ventilator, or some invasive procedure, the disturbingly frequent result [...] -
Considerations for Addressing Clostridium difficile Outbreaks in Acute Care Settings
07/13/2010
by Henry L. Carbone, BS, MS
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Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a major concern in healthcare settings and are becoming more frequent, more severe, and more difficult to treat. A species of Gram-positive bacteria, Clostridium difficile causes diarrhea and other intestinal disease such as colitis when competing bacteria are wiped out by antibiotics. In its vegetative [...] -
The Story of a Champion
07/13/2010
Creating team synergy in infection prevention
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by Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD
In the last edition of this article series, the steps to rapidly deploying the Champion’s Kit Program were discussed in the context of a facility targeting zero healthcare-associated infections using the kit as a guide for cultural transformation and sustainable positive outcomes. In this final edition [...] -
CS Specialist
07/13/2010
Reruns
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
I watched a great movie last night. I was surfing channels and ran across it. It’s a movie that I have seen several times before, but I was happy to have a chance to watch it again because the story has meaning to me and I always enjoy it. Some movies [...] -
Bathing Critical Care Patients with Chlorhexidine Gluconate is a Significant Step in Helping to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections
06/08/2010
by Rhonda Lemmo, RN, CNOR
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Everyday nearly 60,000 people are patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in hospitals in the United States.1 This typically encompasses the very sick, who are experiencing major invasive surgery, accidents and/or traumas or organ failure. ICUs account for more than 10 percent of all hospital beds and more than four million [...] -
Best Practices for Infection Prevention in Surgical Environmental Hygiene
06/08/2010
Using a planned, disciplined program
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by Beth Hohl and Kirsten M. Thompson
The spread of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in surgical environments has become a major concern and priority for healthcare facilities around the globe. This is not due to lack of efforts to contain infections through conventional means but is instead a result of the processes and [...] -
Principals of Effective Wound Care
06/08/2010
Assessing both the patient and the wound
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by Connie Yuska, RN, MS, CORLN, and Kim Kehoe, BSN, RN, CWOCN, DAPWCA
Wound care costs the U.S. healthcare system more than $20 billion each year, including more than $4 billion spent on wound management products. While prevention, early detection and rapid, effective intervention are the hallmarks of an effective [...] -
Advances in Catheter Securement
06/08/2010
Improving patient care and clinician safety
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by Ron Stoker
About five years ago years ago, after a relatively simple surgery, I acquired a major hospital-associated infection (HAI) that almost took my life. It was 12 days post surgery that I found a small amount of pus on the back of my left hand. I was immediately concerned [...] -
A Case Study for Deployment of the APIC Champion’s Kit
06/08/2010
by Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD
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The Champion’s Kit is designed to assist healthcare professionals, including infection preventionists, with creating internal champion’s for infection prevention from the executive suite to the bedside clinicians. In many situations, lack of executive support and accountability is a significant factor in the failure of infection prevention initiatives. Last month, an article [...] -
CS Specialist
06/08/2010
Constant vigil
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
The other day I ran across some pictures of the first year I lived in my house. I was amazed at how the place had changed over the years. A series of improvements, some major and some minor, slowly changed the look of the house and it went from being [...] -
Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections
05/13/2010
The need to implement innovative technologies and best practices
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by Lorri Downs, RN, BSN, MS, CIC
Preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAI) continue to be one of the most important issues in healthcare today. While there has been much discussion about the problem, very little has centered on the evidenced-based solutions available and the challenge providers face in finding [...] -
The Facts on Forced-air Warming
05/13/2010
Proven performance, modern advancements, make forced-air warming the right choice
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When forced-air warming was first introduced to the surgical community in 1987, the system—known as Bair Hugger therapy—consisted of a large warming unit and just one blanket type. The technology, now known for its exceptional performance throughout the perioperative process, was initially designed to warm patients [...] -
IAHCSMM Advances Educational, Leadership, International Initiatives
05/13/2010
Promoting quality and excellence within central service profession
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) has long been a leader in education and multi-layered support for central sterile supply department professionals worldwide. In light of that enduring commitment, the Association has established an extensive portfolio of innovative resources and [...] -
Terminal Room Cleaning Requires a Programmatic Approach to Improve Environmental Hygiene
05/13/2010
by Linda Homan, RN, CIC
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The role of environmental hygiene in infection prevention is rapidly gaining recognition as a result of a growing body of research that links infections with the patient environment. As indicated in Table 1, pathogens such as Clostridium difficile, MRSA, and VRE can survive on environmental surfaces for extended periods of time [...] -
Creating Champions for Infection Prevention: One Step at a Time
04/23/2010
by Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD
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One of the most challenging tasks in healthcare is creating and sustaining cultural transformation. In order for change to be sustainable, all parties involved in the process must be supportive of the process and approach the intervention in a similar manner. In an effort to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections [...] -
Infection Preventionists Boot Camp
04/23/2010
Essentials
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by Ron Stoker, MS
Changes in Infection Control
Over the last few years a number of changes have occurred in regulatory and professional associations in regards to those that help protect patients from healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in clinical and other settings around the world. These changes dramatically affected those who specialize in preventing these infections—known as infection [...] -
CS Specialist
04/23/2010
The rest of the story
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
Anyone who knows me has probably heard me tell the story of my mentor and her advice regarding communicating with employees. When I was a new central service department manager and was just learning to work with staff, she would often remind me that the best results [...] -
Liquid Infectious Waste Disposal
03/30/2010
Moving to a new system can increase staff safety and save costs
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Today, healthcare professionals have been asked to serve two masters. Government agencies like OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have increased the regulations for disposal of infectious fluids. At the [...] -
Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers
03/30/2010
Is more better?
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by Lorri Downs, RN, BSN, MS, CIC
As healthcare providers work to eliminate hospital-acquired infection, hand hygiene has become a focus of that effort. It is simplicity itself; no less groundbreaking than when Pasteur interrupted the assembly at the Académie Royale de Médecine to plead his case for clean hands. Yet today, hospital-acquired infections [...] -
Dirt on Hospital Cleaning
03/30/2010
How to get rid of what’s bugging you and your patients
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by George Clarke
It’s no surprise to anyone in healthcare that hospitals are sickening to some patients. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year. These infections [...] -
CS Specialist
03/30/2010
Who is working behind the scenes?
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
A few weeks ago I went for a ride on a Ferris wheel. It was the first time in many years that I had ridden one. It brought back pleasant memories of county fairs when I was a child and amusement parks when I was a [...] -
Reaching the Peak of Perioperative Practice
03/30/2010
Celebrating our profession
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by Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, FAAN
Perioperative nursing has come a long way. Just a generation ago, our role was confined to caring for the patient while in the operating room only. We did not have any knowledge of the patient prior to their arrival in the OR. Today, we are an integral [...] -
Disinfection of the Healthcare Environment
03/30/2010
Protecting the patient
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by J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD
Now more than ever, disinfection of the patient’s environment is a key component of the infection prevention and control process. One of the most critical interventions that can be routinely performed to decrease the risk for cross transmission and development of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is routine cleaning and [...] -
The Infection Preventionist’s Role in Ensuring the Correct Monitoring of Nonimplant and Implant Loads Processed in a Steam Sterilizer
03/10/2010
by Martha Young, BS, MS, CSPDT
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The role of an infection preventionist (IP) is to be the gate keeper to ensuring that medical devices processed in their healthcare facility are safe for patient use. AORN says that “One of the measures for preventing surgical site infections is to provide surgical items that are free of contamination [...] -
Understanding Risk Factors in Pressure Ulcer Development and Wound Healing
03/09/2010
Educating your staff
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Connie Yuska, RN, MS, CORLN
Pressure ulcers affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, complicate the delivery of patient care, and contribute to patient deaths and disability. In fact, nearly 60,000 U.S. hospital patients are estimated to die from complications due to hospital-acquired pressure ulcers each year. It is estimated that 2.5 million patients [...] -
New CMS Normothermia Measure Brings Warmth to Surgical Patients
03/05/2010
SCIP-Inf-10 inpatient measure applies to “all surgical patients, regardless of age”
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by Troy Bergstrom
A systematic approach to quality improvement is particularly important today as both public and private healthcare organizations, including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) among others, lead national initiatives designed [...] -
CS Specialist
03/04/2010
Where to we go from here?
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by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL
Imagine being given an address in the heart of a strange city and being told to drive to that address without directions or a map. Imagine being given flour, sugar, eggs, and other ingredients and being asked to bake a specific dessert from scratch without a [...]
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