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At the 18th Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference in Chicago on Oct. 29, Jack Wagner, president and director of scientific, technical and regulatory affairs at Micro-Scientific Industries, discussed nosocomial infections and best practices for surgery center cleaning and disinfection.
Mr. Wagner pointed out that almost all environmentally transmitted infections occur because a staff member fails to follow protocol.
In the case of OR surfaces, an intermediate-level disinfectant that kills mycobacteria TB is the industry standard. Mr. Wagner said TB is considered the industry benchmark because it is very hard to kill. “Chances are that if you kill TB, you have a product that can kill other bacteria and viruses,” he said.
In addition, Mr. Wagner advised that while pre-moistened wipes are suitable for non-clinical surfaces, they are not suitable for terminal cleaning and reprocessing of patient care devices. In that same vein, liquid cleaners and disinfectants may be used for both cleaning and disinfecting purposes and are better suited for corners, cracks and other hard-to-reach spaces. Other considerations include the following:
• Ready-to-use (opposed to concentrated cleaners/disinfectants) are easier to use and easier to defend during regulatory questions.
• Disinfectants containing alcohol and high alcohol (> 24 percent) always require pre-cleaning using detergent and water, followed by rinsing and drying. These types of disinfectants also cannot be used on clear plastics.
• Floors should be mopped between cases using a fresh, clean mop with detergent and water.
Research led by Dr. Sheldon Stone of the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, observed more than 7,000 patient contacts in 56 intensive care and acute care of the elderly wards in 15 United Kingdom hospitals, makes this one of the largest and most detailed studies on gloves and their impact on hand hygiene. Overall, the study found that hand hygiene compliance was “disappointingly low,” at just 47.7 percent. Compliance was even lower in instances where gloves were worn, dipping to just over 41 percent.
Stone and his colleagues suggest further study on the behavioral reasons behind why healthcare workers are less likely to wash their hands when wearing gloves. Regardless, the researchers recommend that campaigns such as the World Health Organization’s Clean Care is Safer Care program should emphasize better hand hygiene associated with gloving practices.
THANK YOU MedLaundry! Your service has given me back hours of time that I can now spend with my family. And the linen is always great!
from Cheryl Clark, HealthLeaders Media
We noticed this great article and wanted to share it with you. Several of the points directly relate to laundry and medical linen, such as isolating c. diff patients and their linen. Proper airflow is critical here. Other things discussed include handwashing and the need for monitoring and auditing, surveillance practices and swabbing patients for MRSA, working and collaborating with community hospitals, and reducing the use of unnecessary antibiotics. Great article and lots of food for thought. Enjoy.
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We here at MedLaundry really hate to hear stories like this. Healthcare Linen Specialists, a subsidiary of Joplin Workshops in Joplin, MO, has suffered several severe setbacks recently from a tornado on May 22. One of their largest customers, St. John’s Regional Medical Center, was destroyed in the storm, and three of Joplin’s employees lost their lives.
Joplin Workshops is a business that deserves much recognition as they provide employment opportunities for people with mental and physical abilities. If you need linen service in the Joplin, MO area, we hope you consider using Healthcare Linen Services.
Our hearts go out to them and the families of those lost in the storm.
OSHA is holding inspections of ambulatory surgical centers, freestanding emergency clinics, and primary care medical clinics in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi from April 25 to September 30, 2012, to examine their sharps safety programs. Those found in violation can be subject to citations and/or fines. It should go without saying that this is a critical time to review your sharps safety program and make sure you are following OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 1910.1030.
According to a new study analyzing 10 years of MRSA that occurred at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, the dangerous infection occurs more often in the summer and fall, and affects children more than adults. According to the researchers, the increase in heat and humidity might offer the ideal conditions for the spread of MRSA, via skin moisture. You can read the rest of the article here.
A few helpful tips:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and keep plenty of alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hand
- Cover cuts and scrapes with a clean bandage
- Never touch other people’s cuts or wounds
- Do not share personal items such as razors or towels
- Wipe down gym equipment with an alcohol based cleaner prior to and after use
- Drying your clothes and towels in a dryer as opposed to air drying them will help kill bacteria
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