...Hospital Acquired Infections in Relation to Poor Hand Hygiene Hospital acquired infections is an all too real and current issue. It is also highly preventable through the simple action of hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is a vital part of the hospital system to ensure the continuum of health. The number of professional health care staff who is not abiding by the governing policies on hand hygiene is alarming. It is an issue that is particularly relevant to nurses as they are in constant contact with patients, more so than any other health care professional. This paper shall address the topic of hospital acquired infections in relation to the lack of hand washing and poor hand hygiene. It shall hence be explored the reason behind the issues existence. Background Modern infection control is grounded in the work of Ignaz Semelweis who, in the late 1840’s demonstrated the importance of hand hygiene for controlling transmission of infection (Pittet, Allegrazi, & Boyce, 2009) and reduced mortality rate related to hospital acquired infections (Mortell, 2012). Hand hygiene has become an integral part of our culture. Hand washing is taught at every level of school, advocated in the workplace, and emphasized during nursing, medical, and paramedic training programs. The primary objective of hand hygiene recommendations has always been to reduce pathogen transmission and hospital acquired infections which, in turn, should reduce patient morbidity and mortality (Mortell, 2012). Hand Hygiene has...
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...Hand Hygiene Practices in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Multimodal Intervention and Impact on Nosocomial Infection Barbara C.C. Lam, Josephine Lee and Y.L. Lau Pediatrics 2004;114;e565; originally published online October 18, 2004; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2004-1107 The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the World Wide Web at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/114/5/e565.full.html PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007. Copyright © 2004 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0031-4005. Online ISSN: 1098-4275. Downloaded from pediatrics.aappublications.org at University of Southern Queensland Library on August 5, 2014 Hand Hygiene Practices in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Multimodal Intervention and Impact on Nosocomial Infection Barbara C.C. Lam, MBBS, FRCP(Edin, Lond.), FRCPCH(UK), FHKCPaed; Josephine Lee, RN, MSN; and Y.L. Lau, MD (Hons), FRCP(Edin, Glasg. Lond.) FRCPCH(UK) ABSTRACT. Objective. Health care–associated infections persist as a major problem in most neonatal intensive care units. Hand hygiene has been singled out as the most important measure in preventing hospital-acquired infection. However...
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...Abstract Background Hand washing and hand hygiene are consider to be the number one, cheap essential measure of preventing and controlling spread of hospital acquired infections (HAIs). Hand washing and hygiene can significantly reduce the burden of disease, in particular in hospitalized patient Unfortunately compliance to hand hygiene recommended standard procedures by the health care workers (HCWs) has been unacceptably poor. In order to design education program, identification of several risk factors associated with poor hand hygiene (HH) compliance is of extreme importance. Objective: The purpose of this study is to implement a hand hygiene program for increase compliance with hand hygiene among health care worker in 97 beds hospital. The key target for compliance to HH is not only health-care workers but also policy-makers and organizational leaders and managers. Methods.: Compliance to hand hygiene will be evaluated through direct observation of HCWs ,to helps pinpoint areas of strength or weaknesses in HH behavior, so as to develop training program that will help HCWs to complaint with HH . Evaluation will be based on direct observation and survey audit, observing the HCWs during routine patient care to ensure that hands hygiene are performed before and after getting in contact with patient and patient environment. In addition, survey audit based on the HCWs perception, knowledge and attitude, including patient and family observation of HCWs about hand hygiene. Intervention...
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...The Importance of Hand Hygiene in the work place Rosamma Mathew American Sentinel University The Importance of Hand Hygiene in the work place The University of Illinois hospital has its policy and procedures located on the hospital’s web page. It is simple and easy to access. It is available twenty for hours a day, every day, and any employee of the hospital can access it from any computer as long as they have valid identification. Each hospital employee was told where to find certain policies and procedures, and they are notified through e-mail of any policy changes and updates. Most importantly all policy and procedures are based on evidence that has been collected and recorded. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], around two million patients get infected while in a hospital settings in the United States each year, ("Hand Hygiene Basics," 2011) . The infection attained can be either simple or life threatening. One can prevent the spread of infection by simply washing their hands. In fact, hand washing is the single most important way to prevent or reduce the spread of infection. As a nurse I follow all of the policies and procedures of my hospital. I work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, so it is essential that policies and procedures are held to the utmost standard. Premature babies are very susceptible to infection since their immune system is still in the stages of development. Premature infants...
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...Hand Hygiene Change Project Capstone NU296 September 18, 2013 Introduction The lack of hand washing and/or hand sanitizing is a leading cause of nosocomial infections in healthcare facilities not only here in Nevada, but across the United States. Hand washing is one of the biggest contributing factors in stopping the spread of infections throughout the healthcare environment. Nosocomial infections could be dramatically reduced by monitoring and enforcing hand washing and/or “gel in, gel out” policies of each facility. This could also lower the length of stay per patient, and greatly reduce the medical care cost per patient. Analyze the current situation and provide evidence based resources to support the need for change and your proposed plan. Include ethical, legal, or standards of care implications. Washing hands as promptly and thoroughly as possible between patient contact and after contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions, excretions, and medical equiptment contaminated by patients is a huge element in infection control. Hand hygiene is recognized by infection prevention and control experts as the single most important intervention in decreasing the spread of infection in healthcare facilities. Unclean hands are the main transporters for germs between people and inanimate objects (i.e. blood pressure cuffs, bed rails, call lights, etc…). It is imperative to practice...
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...the beginning of the chapter "On Washing Hands", Dr. Gawande stated that the spread of hospital-acquired infections could be stopped if the medical staffs wash their hands frequently between each patient visits. The infections are carried through the doctors and staff members and then transferred to the next patients by "having shaken hands with a sniffling patient…most of [the staff] do little more than wipe [their] hands on [their] white coats and move on--to see the next patient" (Gawande 15). The various contagions that the staff encounter is known to cause deadly infections and about ninety thousand patients die from these infections during their stay in the hospital. Gawande listed several case studies of early physicians who noticed the difference when staff did or did not take care of their hygiene before a procedure and concluded that doctors themselves are carrying the disease between patients. The simple act of washing hand is difficult for the staff not because of medical staff ignorance but rather medical staff non-compliance. The staff does have knowledge of what do—in this case, washing hands- but rather not have the knowledge of how to apply washing their hands correctly, which Gawande called being non-compliance. Hospitals have infection-control units that work "to stop the spread of infection in the hospital" (Gawande 13). Gawande mentions the different techniques the infection-control unit has tried in order to make washing hands more convenient for the fast-paced...
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...Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is known as one of the most common superbugs. The prevention and control of MRSA is the most written about pathogen.1 It is becoming more and more difficult to treat since this bacteria is constantly developing a resistance to several antibiotics. Methicillin was used as an antibiotic to treat Staphylococcus aureus. In England in 1961, the first strain of MRSA was found.2 MRSA is a bacterium that is gram-positive, meaning that it will take a stain when applied. Under the microscope, this bacterium is known to look similar to grapelike clusters. MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics, making this pathogen dangerous. MRSA infections are most commonly found in hospitals. MRSA greatly increases...
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...CRITIQUE: BLOOD STREAM INFECTIONS Research Critique Tom Jones Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing Nursing Research 5314 Fall 2005 Research Critique Introduction Blood stream infections associated with central venous catheters account for approximately 250,000 infections in the United States annually. The vast majority of these infections are preventable through education on best practice (Coopersmith et al., 2004). Best practice principles include hand washing, maximum sterile precautions, and labeled catheter dressings. Central venous catheters are routinely used in the critical care setting; therefore, posing an increased risk of infection. Furthermore, increases in morbidity, mortality, and cost are a result of blood stream infections from central lines (Warren et al., 2004). Research Problem Blood stream infections increase morbidity, mortality, cost, length of stay; furthermore, the literature shows that many of these infections are preventable. A staff education has proven to be cost effective and proficient in decreasing blood stream infections (Coopersmith, et al., 2004). Warren et al. (2004) states, “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the utilization of health-care worker education is an important element in programs aimed at the prevention of hospital-acquired infections” (p.1613). A review of the literature explain nurse bedside behavior after education on hand washing and best practice with...
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...recent nosocomial infections that occurred within the past year. In your report, categorize the different parameters (i.e., person, time, place, ethnicity, and gender) used in the compilation of data into the nformation summative. Currently at the Good Health Hospital, there’s a nosocomial outbreak of E. coli on Ward 10 on the second floor. Four cases have been identified so far linked to spoil food from the cafeteria, with two more cases pending. After meeting with chief administrator Joe Wellborn, one patient could possibly been symptomatic with the bacteria prior to admission. Parameters discussion below: * Person: 4 identified cases. (1. Male, age 23), (2. Female, age 21), (Male, age 15), and (Female, age 42). * Place: Good Health Hospital, Ward 10, second floor; Good Health Hospital cafeteria. Also research has indicated that other area hospitals around Tampa Bay has been contaminated with E. coli as well. * Time: Within the past week. Propose at least six (6) questions for the health care administrator at Good Health Hospital, regarding potential litigation issues with infections from the nosocomial diseases. Rationalize, in your report, the logic behind your six (6) questions. Traditionally, nosocomial infections have generally been viewed as an unavoidable risk of hospitalization. Where this risk materialized, the infections were typically benign and treatable (Kleinpell, 2011). Even where the consequences of nosocomial infections were severe, legal...
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...1.1 Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection The Care worker has a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to take care of one`s own health and safety and others you care or support. Which is : Take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others. Cooperate with the employer in respect of Health and Safety matters. Attend training provided by the employer 1.2 Explain employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control infection Provide a safe workplace make sdout risk assessments to assess the dangers of certain work activities Provide training to staff Provide PPE 2.1 Outline current legislation and regulatory...
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...Hand Washing Nursing school/intervention August 3, 2011 To eliminate and prevent infection there are several precautions that one needs to follow no matter what your job is, in any healthcare facility. In order to prevent infection the following elements are important standard precaution factors; hand washing, gloves, masks, gowns, appropriate device handling and laundry. The standard precautions means that you must treat all patients as potentially infectious, which apply to all human blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions, non-intact skin and mucous membranes. The most effective, least expensive and simplest way to prevent the spread of infection is by washing your hands. A good reason to wash your hands is the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Bacteria reproduce by a process known as “binary fission.” Each cell of bacteria grows to its maximum size and then divides in the middle to form two new cells of bacteria. “The time required for this growth will take place amount to about 15 to 30 minutes. In only 8 hours, one bacteria cell can multiply to more than 3 billion cells in size, but more importantly, we aren't dealing with just one cell, there are many bacteria cells. Unclean hands alone can be responsible for 500 to 1000 bacteria’s.”(Infection Control Orientation) This is why so much emphasis is placed on good frequent hand washing. Hand washing should be done after interacting with all patients whether or not gloves are worn. You should always...
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...importance of infection control in maintaining the health and well- being of patients. My placement was in a clinic where intravenous transfusions took place for a variety of illness. Most of the illnesses that the patients were suffering from need infusions that could compromise their immune systems. In view of this, it is very important that infection control be adhered to whenever carrying out clinical procedures on the patients. During the course of my shift, my mentor asked me to remove a cannula from a patient whilst under her supervision....
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...Case Study Name: Marissa D. Jose Instructor: Dr. Linda Joyce Gunn, CPHRM Course title: AFT2 Accreditation Audit Name of institution: Western Governor University Current Compliance Status for Infection Prevention and Control 1. Commission Standard: Infection Investigation/Identification Recently the hospital implements preventing spread of Infection. The hospital has a successful framework for controlling the spread of infection and/or outbreaks among patients/clients, employees, physician, volunteers, students, and visitors. Identification and managing infections at the time of a client’s admission to the hospital and throughout their stay are the critical aspects of the infection prevention and control program, in addition to subsequent renowned infection control practices while providing care. In the hospital’s admission process, there are numerous ways to investigate, control, and prevent infections in the hospital setting, decides what procedures, such as isolation, should be applied to an individual client; and maintains a record of incidents and corrective actions related to infections. This process includes taking the patient’s history of infection, previous hospitalization, current diagnosis, and presence of draining wound, among others. During the health screening process, the hospital also ensures that the patient gets help from the right staff. Immediately the patient checks into the Nightingale...
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...Improving Hand Hygiene Practices 1.0 Introduction Health-related infections account for about 100,000 deaths per annum in the United States. A world-wide systematic review revealed that the occurrence of health-related infections range from between 1.7 to 23.6% per 100 patients. Hospital costs inherently associated with the healthcare-related infections range between 30 to 34 billion US dollars; yet these infections can be prevented through hand hygiene. Critical epidemiologic evidence supports the claims that hand hygiene reduces the transmission of healthcare-related infections. Although it is hard to link hand hygiene and the improvement of healthcare-related infections, organizations such as the Joint Commission, World Health Organization among others, acknowledge the essence of hand hygiene as a universal guideline to reduce healthcare-acquired infections. As such, this proposal focuses on interventions to improve compliance with hand hygiene as a pathway to reduce healthcare-associated infections, rather than the efficacy of hand hygiene to reduce healthcare-associated infections. 1.1 Statement of Purpose Compliance with hand hygiene practices among healthcare workers, nurses, physicians and patients has been low, averaging at approximately 39%. A study conducted in the year 2001 that was aimed at improving hand hygiene compliance and interventions found that there was poor compliance across hospital unit types and other settings. In particular, workers, nurses, physicians...
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...The Effects of Hand Hygiene Interventions Hand hygiene has been proven to decrease the spread of organisms in all settings community wide. There are many forms of hand hygiene such as: antibacterial hand soap, nonantimicrobial soaps, and antiseptic hand sanitizers. Various techniques and methods can be used when performing hand hygiene. Generally, hand hygiene is the most important procedure in eliminating infections to the body. The studies shown will discuss the effectiveness of hand washing in every setting throughout a community. In my first article that I read, “Effect of Hand Hygiene on Infectious Disease Risk in the Community Setting: A Meta-Analysis”, the authors did a meta-analysis to show the results of the benefits of hand hygiene as for preventing respiratory and gastrointestinal infection related illnesses. The article took a total of thirty intervention studies and created the meta-analysis. The results showed that certain hand hygiene interventions were less effective in respiratory infections such as: hand sanitizers and the teaching of hand hygiene. Hand sanitizers and hand washing education were not directly linked to decreasing the spread of organisms in gastrointestinal or respiratory illnesses, but antibacterial hand soap was. Hand hygiene was proven to be much more effective in the studies to decrease likelihood of the occurrence of illnesses in gastrointestinal infections rather than respiratory infections. In my second article read, “Inexpensive...
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