A Behind the Scenes Look at Infection Control in Hospital Settings
Infection control encompasses the procedures and corresponding policies employed to reduce the threat of spreading infections, particularly in clinical, medical or health care settings. The main goal is minimizing the incidences of infectious diseases. Most diseases are bacterial or viral in origin and are spread in a variety of ways.
The purpose of a hospital is to make people feel better than when they were admitted. However, this can really put a crimp in things if you develop a hospital acquired infection. That is why there are infection control policies in place to ensure that this does not happen. In fact, many medical facilities these days appoint one or more people to govern and oversee infection control.
Defining Infection Control
Infection control encompasses the procedures and corresponding policies employed to reduce the threat of spreading infections, particularly in clinical, medical or health care settings. The main goal is minimizing the incidences of infectious diseases. Most diseases are bacterial or viral in origin and are spread in a variety of ways.
Infection control looks at how the infection was spread such as human to human contact or airborne transportation through the spread of droplets like in coughing or sneezing. In addition, animal to human contact is a possibility as well as human contact with an infectious surface. Of course, water and food are additional ways that infection is spread. Infection control officers study all possible scenarios.
The Reason for Infection Control in Health Care
Nosocomial infections aka hospital acquired infections happen every day and it is estimate that up to 10 % of all hospital patients acquire a secondary infection from their stay. Some patients are more susceptible to infection and have weak immune systems. In addition, certain medical practices or lack thereof contribute to the increase of infection as well.
Because of highly infectious bacteria like staph, there has been an increase in infection control measures. Antibiotic resistance can be a contributing factor as well. That is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have continually modified a set of guidelines that all infection control departments in health care setting should follow to reduce infection problems.
Infection Control NursingThe main goal is minimizing the incidences of infectious diseases. Most diseases are bacterial or viral in origin and are spread in a variety of ways.
Infection control looks at how the infection was spread such as human to human contact or airborne transportation through the spread of droplets like in coughing or sneezing. In addition, animal to human contact is a possibility as well as human contact with an infectious surface. Of course, water and food are additional ways that infection is spread.
Infection Control Guidelines
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New diseases are being discovered all the time as well as hardier strains of existing bacteria and viruses which means that infection control departments have to be particularly diligent at all times, examining everything from the check-in of a patient to quality control in the cafeteria to proper sterilization techniques for the equipment. No stone is left unturned in the pursuit of determining the causes of nosocomial infections.
Other things that infection control departments look at include: ventilation systems, new medical equipment which could reduce infection, proper handling of contaminated sheets, hand washing and hygiene measures, proper masking and gowning and even developing continuing education materials about infection that can be distributed to the public as well as the staff.
Infection control is not just practiced in hospitals; it is practiced in any health care facility. This includes dental offices, animal shelters, laboratories, school settings, doctor offices and even nursing homes. Any location where some type of medical care is given should have infection control measures in place. The job of an infection control officer or department can be quite thankless. There are countless details to know and implement so continuing education for a person or people in that position is ongoing. It pays off to be diligent when it comes to learning about new strains or outbreaks as well as revolutionary tools and treatments to stave off infection.
Latest News Regarding Infection Control ?
07/24/2008
On National Patient Safety Day, The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths Calls on the CDC to Make Every Death Count (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
On Friday, July 25th grieving families and patient advocates across the nation will hold candlelight vigils and gather for moments of silence in memory of loved ones who died from hospital infections. We share their pain and outrage, says Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former Lt. Governor of New York State. The government agency responsible for ...
On National Patient Safety Day, The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths Calls on the CDC to Make Every Death Count (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
07/24/2008
Hospital C. diff reporting will help Ont. better deal with disease: experts (C-Health)
TORONTO - Ontario is gearing up to roll out its new provincewide hospital program aimed at determining the rates of infection for Clostridium difficile, a so-called superbug that is posing a growing threat to patient safety across Canada.
Hospital C. diff reporting will help Ont. better deal with disease: experts (C-Health)
07/24/2008
CMV infections affect more than just patients with compromised immune systems, researchers find (EurekAlert!)
An infection due to a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which most commonly affects people with compromised immune systems, can also affect hospital intensive-care patients who have no immune-system problems, University of Washington researchers have found.
CMV infections affect more than just patients with compromised immune systems, researchers find (EurekAlert!)
07/24/2008
On National Patient Safety Day, The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths Calls on the CDC to Make Every Death Count (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
On Friday, July 25th grieving families and patient advocates across the nation will hold candlelight vigils and gather for moments of silence in memory of loved ones who died from hospital infections. We share their pain and outrage, says Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former Lt. Governor of New York State. The government agency responsible for ...
On National Patient Safety Day, The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths Calls on the CDC to Make Every Death Count (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
07/24/2008
High School Wrestler Dies From Staph Infection (FOX 40 Sacramento)
DOWNEY — A high school wrestler died from complications of a drug-resistant staph infection and a teammate was being treated for the illness. Noah Armendariz, 17, died Sunday at Children's Hospital of Orange County from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.
High School Wrestler Dies From Staph Infection (FOX 40 Sacramento)
07/24/2008
On National Patient Safety Day, The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths Calls on the CDC to Make Every Death Count (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
On Friday, July 25th grieving families and patient advocates across the nation will hold candlelight vigils and gather for moments of silence in memory of loved ones who died from hospital infections. We share their pain and outrage, says Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former Lt. Governor of New York State. The government agency responsible for ...
On National Patient Safety Day, The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths Calls on the CDC to Make Every Death Count (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
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