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During the past year, more than 75% of infection prevention and control professionals have taken extra steps to prevent transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in health care facilities, according to results of a survey conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
The nationwide survey was conducted in the wake of a 2007 report that showed a surprisingly high prevalence of MRSA in hospitals—eight times higher than previously estimated, said Janet E. Frain, R.N., president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and a certified professional in health care quality.
The poll results included data from 2,041 infection control professionals, representing 17% of the APIC's nearly 12,000 members. The results were presented last month in a teleconference.
Staff education was the most common new action among those who reported taking additional steps to prevent and control MRSA (64%). Other measures included stricter use of gowns and gloves for anyone who tests positive for MRSA (53%); improved compliance with house cleaning, equipment cleaning, and decontamination practices (49%); and targeted patient MRSA screening (49%).
But more than half of the survey respondents (54%) also reported that their institutions were not doing as much as they could or should to prevent and control MRSA.
“We are still seeing some infection control professionals struggling to get the support they need,” said Kathy Warye, CEO of APIC. But the overall trend of the poll is encouraging, she said.
“We are talking about a complete culture change within the organization, where infection prevention and control is everyone's job,” Ms. Frain said.
“I have a CEO who gets it,” said Marcia Patrick, R.N., who serves as the infection control director for the MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Wash. “In October 2008, Medicare will stop paying for things that shouldn't happen, such as urinary tract infections from Foley catheters. If hospitals aren't working on reducing these things, they are going to be in a world of hurt financially.”
Successful infection control strategies that have been implemented at her facility include improving hand hygiene by installing alcohol gel dispensers in convenient places, adding an infection control professional to the staff, and using data-mining software to review culture reports and identify infections quickly.
For more information about preventing infections, visit the APIC's Web site at www.apic.orgwww.preventinfection.org
ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS
During the past year, more than 75% of infection prevention and control professionals have taken extra steps to prevent transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in health care facilities, according to results of a survey conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
The nationwide survey was conducted in the wake of a 2007 report that showed a surprisingly high prevalence of MRSA in hospitals—eight times higher than previously estimated, said Janet E. Frain, R.N., president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and a certified professional in health care quality.
The poll results included data from 2,041 infection control professionals, representing 17% of the APIC's nearly 12,000 members. The results were presented last month in a teleconference.
Staff education was the most common new action among those who reported taking additional steps to prevent and control MRSA (64%). Other measures included stricter use of gowns and gloves for anyone who tests positive for MRSA (53%); improved compliance with house cleaning, equipment cleaning, and decontamination practices (49%); and targeted patient MRSA screening (49%).
But more than half of the survey respondents (54%) also reported that their institutions were not doing as much as they could or should to prevent and control MRSA.
“We are still seeing some infection control professionals struggling to get the support they need,” said Kathy Warye, CEO of APIC. But the overall trend of the poll is encouraging, she said.
“We are talking about a complete culture change within the organization, where infection prevention and control is everyone's job,” Ms. Frain said.
“I have a CEO who gets it,” said Marcia Patrick, R.N., who serves as the infection control director for the MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Wash. “In October 2008, Medicare will stop paying for things that shouldn't happen, such as urinary tract infections from Foley catheters. If hospitals aren't working on reducing these things, they are going to be in a world of hurt financially.”
Successful infection control strategies that have been implemented at her facility include improving hand hygiene by installing alcohol gel dispensers in convenient places, adding an infection control professional to the staff, and using data-mining software to review culture reports and identify infections quickly.
For more information about preventing infections, visit the APIC's Web site at www.apic.orgwww.preventinfection.org
ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS
During the past year, more than 75% of infection prevention and control professionals have taken extra steps to prevent transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in health care facilities, according to results of a survey conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
The nationwide survey was conducted in the wake of a 2007 report that showed a surprisingly high prevalence of MRSA in hospitals—eight times higher than previously estimated, said Janet E. Frain, R.N., president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and a certified professional in health care quality.
The poll results included data from 2,041 infection control professionals, representing 17% of the APIC's nearly 12,000 members. The results were presented last month in a teleconference.
Staff education was the most common new action among those who reported taking additional steps to prevent and control MRSA (64%). Other measures included stricter use of gowns and gloves for anyone who tests positive for MRSA (53%); improved compliance with house cleaning, equipment cleaning, and decontamination practices (49%); and targeted patient MRSA screening (49%).
But more than half of the survey respondents (54%) also reported that their institutions were not doing as much as they could or should to prevent and control MRSA.
“We are still seeing some infection control professionals struggling to get the support they need,” said Kathy Warye, CEO of APIC. But the overall trend of the poll is encouraging, she said.
“We are talking about a complete culture change within the organization, where infection prevention and control is everyone's job,” Ms. Frain said.
“I have a CEO who gets it,” said Marcia Patrick, R.N., who serves as the infection control director for the MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Wash. “In October 2008, Medicare will stop paying for things that shouldn't happen, such as urinary tract infections from Foley catheters. If hospitals aren't working on reducing these things, they are going to be in a world of hurt financially.”
Successful infection control strategies that have been implemented at her facility include improving hand hygiene by installing alcohol gel dispensers in convenient places, adding an infection control professional to the staff, and using data-mining software to review culture reports and identify infections quickly.
For more information about preventing infections, visit the APIC's Web site at www.apic.orgwww.preventinfection.org
ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS