Central Line Infections When a patient receives a service in the hospital, he expects the quality of service to be adequate for his care. Unfortunately, there are many services in healthcare that need quality improvement. CLABSI is one of the most deadly infections in the U.S. Reduction of CLABSI can happen with the cooperation of healthcare staff and systems. With CLABSI on the rise, healthcare staff needs to be effective in their care for quality improvement in patient safety and patient centeredness.
Latasha Clark BIO 2923-VA Mrs. Leslie Hood January 31, 2010 The Aseptic Technique The aseptic technique refers to the overall sterilization of most clinical settings, but is used most strictly in an operating room environment. This technique is used to minimize the spread of pathogenic organisms and protect patients from infection. The patient himself is the most common source of these pathogens; therefore nurses must shave and sterilize the area of the patient set to be operated on. For nurses and doctors, hand washing is considered the most important step in the aseptic technique. Pre-op and post-op hands must be scrubbed thoroughly from 2 to 5 minutes with warm water and antimicrobial soaps.
Many in our care have also got weakened immune systems and as a consequence are more susceptible to infection from the outset. We want to give the patients in our care the best treatment and quality of care possible and this would not be possible without infection control. Were we to neglect patient control their quality of life and indeed health would deteriorate, they would get sick and suffer and in extreme cases would die. This runs totally contrary to the attitudes, duties and commitments we hold so dear as healthcare workers. In this assignment I will introduce, explain and discuss one of the most topical worldwide infections in the workplace – mainly hospitals and other places of healthcare environment; MRSA.
CDC Latest Guidelines for C. Diff Clostridium difficile (CDI) is a health care related illness, with symptoms of severe diarrhea that can lead to dehydration. Hospital acquired infections easily spread among patients because the hospital provides an environment where sick people live in close proximity and where different kinds of infectious disease are constantly present. Although anyone can catch a healthcare related infection, those taking antibiotics and older adults are at most risk for a CDI. CDI infections are preventable and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have put together guidelines to prevent outbreaks. Antibiotics should only be prescribed when there is a potential for effectiveness.
Has one ever wondered if these medications are sanitary and sterile. The health care field is widely spread and its main concept is cleanliness to reduce infections, diseases and disorders. We must start the process of cleanliness with the environment and of our surroundings to prevent the spread and cause of these illnesses. The counters, credit card machine and the handling of money are not the only contaminated items a person deals with when in these facilities. Pills are dropped on the floor, touched by pharmacists and technicians hands.
Hand Hygiene in Healthcare This assignment explains the concerns in the healthcare regarding to National Patient Safety Goals established by The Joint Commission. Hand washing is very important in a long-term care facility. Insisting that everyone does it properly it greatly diminishes the risk for nosocomial infections and passing bacteria and pathogens amongst people. Hand Hygiene: NPSG Goal 7- 07.01.01 Goal seven of the National Patient Safety goals addresses the issue of reducing the risk of health care associated infections. This goal targets the prevention of mortality from health care-associated infections caused by several different drug resistant organisms, surgical related infections, and infections of the bloodstream related to catheter insertion.
Having an active MRSA infection on your skin is contagious. Touching the infected area or touching an object that came into contact with it causes risks for others. The bacteria on your skin, in your nose and mouth, can spread to others if the right precautions are not taken. Common activities that most do not think about on a daily basis become more important. Wash hands frequently, this will help to kill bacteria that will spread throughout your body and onto other objects.
For HA-MRSA (healthcare-associated MRSA) include residing in long-term care facilities, hospitalization, and invasive medical devices. MRSA is common in nursing homes. Carriers of the disease can spread it, without being sick themselves. Being hospitalized is also a risk factor as MRSA is a concern in hospitals because it can attack the most vulnerable people such as older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Last, having an invasive medical device such as intravenous lines or urinary catheters can act as a pathway for MRSA to enter the body.
Aseptic technique refers to practices that help reduce, prevent or even break the chain of infection from health care associated infections due to improper sanitary precautions. Aseptic technique process is divided into two different processes, surgical and medical asepsis. Surgical asepsis is used within a surgical setting where invasive procedures are done and complete sterility is vital. These procedures include anything that is surgically implemented within the body. Medical asepsis helps reduce the number of microorganisms from entering the body.
I believe these traits personally are important to have when entering the nursing field. I want to be the kind of person that can give patients the physical and emotional support that they need to face whatever problem that may arise. School is the place I need to go to be provided with the knowledge and proper qualification to provide the proper care to the patients. The medical field to me is fascinating to learn how our environment, DNA and what we eat affects our health. For example, I had read that a poor diet that is low in antioxidants and environmental exposure to toxins can damage the DNA in the cells and years later show up as cancer.