Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) cause an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths annually in the United States costing us approximately $17-29 billion a year (Center for Disease Control, n.d). HAIs can lead to increased hospitals stays, increased use of diagnostic tests, treatment and antibiotics. The Joint Commission added the reduction of Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI), reduction of Surgical Site Infections (SSI) and the reduction, incidence and transmission of Multi-drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) as new HAI national patient safety goals in 2009 (Saufl, 2009).
According to Broaders and Srikanth (2014) most HAIs are caused by MDROs, making up two-thirds of reported HAIs. MDROs are highly resistant …show more content…
Hand hygiene should be utilized before touching a patient, before putting on and after putting on gloves, before invasive procedures, after touching a patient, before handling clean equipment, before eating or drinking and after using the restroom. Proper performance of hand hygiene is ideal in preventing infections including knowing when to use soap and water (when hands visible soil, when in direct contact with blood or body fluids, after contact with patient with C. difficult) versus when to use alcohol-based hand rubs (not visibly soil). Fingernails should be kept short, as well to prevent harboring bacteria and yeast. Also artificial nails should be avoided and nails should be cut short, no more than ¼ inch.
The CDC (2016) recommends the transmission-based precautions, contact precaution. Contact precaution intervention includes having MDRO patients in single rooms or cohorting them with a patient with the same infection, if a single room is not available. Gown and gloves should be worn in room by staff even if they do not intend on touching anything. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after exiting room. Gown and gloves should be removed before leaving the room. Contact precautions should be used for infections including VRE, MRSA, C. dificile, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and
According to Broaders and Srikanth (2014) most HAIs are caused by MDROs, making up two-thirds of reported HAIs. MDROs are highly resistant …show more content…
Hand hygiene should be utilized before touching a patient, before putting on and after putting on gloves, before invasive procedures, after touching a patient, before handling clean equipment, before eating or drinking and after using the restroom. Proper performance of hand hygiene is ideal in preventing infections including knowing when to use soap and water (when hands visible soil, when in direct contact with blood or body fluids, after contact with patient with C. difficult) versus when to use alcohol-based hand rubs (not visibly soil). Fingernails should be kept short, as well to prevent harboring bacteria and yeast. Also artificial nails should be avoided and nails should be cut short, no more than ¼ inch.
The CDC (2016) recommends the transmission-based precautions, contact precaution. Contact precaution intervention includes having MDRO patients in single rooms or cohorting them with a patient with the same infection, if a single room is not available. Gown and gloves should be worn in room by staff even if they do not intend on touching anything. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after exiting room. Gown and gloves should be removed before leaving the room. Contact precautions should be used for infections including VRE, MRSA, C. dificile, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and