Protection!!!

Please check out my VOKI before checking out the rest of my blog.

Bloggers remember this from my first blog? This is what needs to be broken in order to prevent the spread of infection. In my previous posts some of my videos talked about some of this but here is were we are going to put it all together. Theses thing can protect you, your patients, and everyone. So let's get on with the show starting with the # 1 most preventive thing we can do.

Our patients are coming into the hospital sicker                       

and are staying longer and some have long term 

disabilities. This increases their chance of

resistance to microorganisms. In 2006, WHO, estimated 

that more than 1.4 million people worldwide developed nosocomial

infections due to poor hand washing or no hand 
washing. 







These included but not limited to UTI's,
surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. In the United States, we have seen crude mortality rates ranging from 
12-80% (WHO, 2009).   
Yes, bloggers patients die because of poor

hand washing .

I think we need to rethink our habits on hand washing.

Universal precautions refers to the practice of avoiding contact with a person's blood or body fluids. These precautions are designed for all who might come in contact with patients. Universal precautions include the use of some or all of the following Personal Protective Equipment or PPE's depending on the purpose or amount of contact you have with the patients and their conditions (CDC, 2007).

       General PPE include:

1. Gloves - Sterile/non-sterile, must be worn when having direct contact with patients, ie blood draws, bathing.
2. Gowns - Sterile/non-sterile, depending on patient's condition
3. Masks - Includes general masks or N 95 mask for airborne precautions.
4. Eye ware/face shields - usually worn in the operating room or during invasive procedures. 

Types of Isolation Precautions in addition to Universal Precautions:

          Contact Isolation: Most common type of isolation- protects against MRSA, VRE, & C-Diff. 

Gown and gloves required at all times. Visitor's must report to nurses station before entering the patient's room. Patients should be placed in a private room but if they must cohort in a semi-private room organisms must match MRSA & MRSA, VRE & VRE. If patients have C-Diff, to cohort they must be in the same stages of the illness - Check with Infection control before cohorting any patients.

          Droplet Isolation: Protects against RSV, MRSA pneumonia, & Flu - Gown, gloves and an standard isolation mask must be worn at all times. If contact with secretions, use eye wear or mask with a shield. Visitor's must report to nurse's station before entering patient's room. These patients are in private rooms.

          Airborne Precautions: Protects against Tuberculosis, Measles, Chicken Pox & Disseminated Shingles - These patient are on strict isolation requiring a negative pressure room. This room allows for ventilation that generates negative pressure to allow air into the isolation room but not escape from the room (Wikipedia, 2014).This usually has two rooms where the patient is in the most inner room and an outer room for getting dressed before entering and undressing before leaving the room. Gown, Gloves and a N95 mask and in some a hood shield is worn. Visitor's are limited.

Summary Chart: 

So you see bloggers, it's a lot of information. In addition, your might want to check your facilities policy and procedure manuals on infection control. Also if you have any questions, contact your facilities infection control department. And remember Stay Safe and Be Informed!!!!

References:

 The Center for Disease Control (2007). 2007 Guidelines for isolation precautions: Preventing transmission of infectious agents in a healthcare setting. 

Retrieved from; http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/isolation/Isolation2007.pdf

World Health Organization (2009). Patient safety: Guidelines to hand hygiene in a healthcare setting. Retrieved from;http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241597906_eng.pdf  

Wikipedia (2014). Negative pressure room. Retrieved from; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_room_pressure

SUPER BUGS!!!!

     In today's blog we are going to look at " The Bugs," MRSA, VRE, C-Diff and the new bug taking the world by storm the newest "Super Bug"----------CRE!!! Warning this blog is very interactive and contains a lot of useful buggy information. Read and be informed, be safe.

           Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is an infection due to a strain of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. These infections can be hospital acquired through having invasive procedures, such as surgery, or community acquired where people are living under crowded conditions. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are normally found on the skin or nose and are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or wound. Usually, the infection begins as a painful boil and resembles a pimple or spider bite. This bacteria can burrow deep into the body and infect the blood stream causing organ and bone damage (Mayo Clinic, 2012). 
Take a look at this video form WebMD for more compelling information.

         Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci- Enterococci is a bacteria normally found in the digestive tract and female genital and makes up most of the bacteria population of a healthy person. Once colonized this bacteria can lead to an infection causing UTI's, Endocarditis, and Meningitis.  These infection are mostly hospital acquired and transmission is person to person (NIH, 2009).



    
     
      

     Clostridum Difficile or the "GUT Bug"- is an infection of the colon by bacterium c-diff. This organism causes toxins that damage the lining of the colon leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dehydration. C-diff bacteria is been known to produces large amounts of both toxins A & B. Now there is a new ever more virulent strain of c-diff that is producing a third toxin that is more severe and making those infected seriously ill and in some cases casing death. Current commercial testing cannot distinguish this strain from a normal strain (Lee & Mark, 2013).
Here is a link to a video from a teenagers  prospective.

     And introducing the newest "Super Bug"- CRE

          Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae has a very high level of resistance to all antibiotics. Klebsiella & E-coli are normal gut bacteria that can become carbapenem resistent which leads to CRE. Check out this video for more information about this super bug.
  

 References

Mayo Clinic (2012). MRSA Infection. Retrieved from; http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/basics/definition/con-20024479

Lamotte, S. (2014). The truth about MRSA. Retrieved from; http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/video/truth-about-mrsa

NIH (2009). Antimicrobial drug resistance. Retrieved from; http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/antimicrobialResistance/Examples/vre/Pages/overview.aspx

 Cochrane, P. (2011). VRE in healthcare environment. Retrieved from; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6UqRJmjGqA

Lee, D. &  Mark, J. (2013). Clostridium difficile. Retrieved from; http://www.medicinenet.com/clostridium_difficile_colitis/page8.htm#what_is_new_in_c_difficile

USA Today. (2012). Teen c-diff victim. Retrieved from; http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/video/teen-c-diff-victim/1773733545001

 Center for Disease Control (2013). CRE retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/cre/

Snyderman, N.  (2013). Deadly CRE super bug sweeps across America. Retrieved from; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3klxO3Dt3jUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3klxO3Dt3jU

     The Flu or influenza is an infection from birds and mammals caused by the RNA virus family - Orthomyxovirdae. The flu is often confused with the common cold because symptoms are somewhat similar, but the flu is more severe because it is caused by different types of the virus (Wikipedia, 2014).

 
       The flu is not discriminatory, it can affect everyone. According to the CDC to date New York State is at a moderate high level for outpatient visits to their primary care physicians for flu like symptoms. Hospitalizations are also high especially with those 65 years old and older being hospitalized (CDC, 2014).
If left untreated the flu can lead to life threatening complications including; pneumonia, encephalitis, meningitis, and can even produce seizures. Diagnosing the flu is usually based on symptoms but sometimes the physicians may want you to have a swab of your nose or throat for a more definitive diagnosis to decide the best course of treatment for you.

According to the CDC, the flu can be prevented in 3 easy steps:

1. Get your flu shot - The CDC recommends anyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated.Those that are at high risk; elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma and also healthcare workers and those that live with or take care of those in the high risk group should be vaccinated.
2. Stop the spread of germs - Wash your hands!!! Clean and disinfect surfaces. Cover your mouth & nose when coughing or sneezing. If you are sick, use common sense and stay home from work or school for at least 4 hours after your fever has subsided.
3. If you have the flu - Take the treatment that you physician may have prescribed for you. This may include antiviral drugs such as Tami flu. These drugs can decrease symptoms and shorten the time you feel ill when taken properly.

     So you see bloggers, keep it safe and be informed. See you next time!!!
   

References

Center for Disease Control (2014). Flu season. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

New York Times (2014). The flu overview. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/the-flu/overview.html  

Wikipedia (2014). Influenza. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

Please view this VOKI than continue through to the blog

One of the hottest topic in the hospital world today is infection control. Infection control has been defined as policies and procedures used to minimize the risk of the spread of infections. The purpose of infection control  is to reduce the occurrence of infections caused by bacteria or viruses and can spread by human to human contact, animal to human contact, human contact with an infected surface, airborne transmissions through droplets in the air and through food and water.

                         The Chain of Infection: see video below.