Does it seem like every few days there is a report of a new or old organism or disease poking its head up and staying “I’m here! Look at me!” I’m sure as an infection Preventionist or ID physician, it may seem that way to you. If you are in the cities and towns that are having these outbreaks it doesn’t matter what your profession is, you are affected. The issue of MDROs, emerging diseases, and known diseases we hoped to have snuffed out with mass vaccinations are now front and center in all of our lives. They are no longer just for the hospitals they are on mass. Polio is back in North America. New York State has declared a state disaster emergency. What do we need to know?For polio and for most diseases we need to be vaccinated to be safe. There is no question of what the vaccine did for the eradication of polio. Vaccines work and save lives.Be safe and please remember, wash your hands.Podcasts referenced:Podcast episode 45 - “Infection Prevention Needs a New Normal” When I interview Grant Morgan, CEO of R-Zero as he discusses utilizing hospital technologies in schools, restaurants and work places. Podcast episode 43 “Cleaning for Health and Smart disinfection with epidemiologist Emily Rosenberg” References:CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/polio/what-is-polio/faq/index.htmNew Your State - https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-21-declaring-disaster-state-new-yorkInteresting Polio Vaccine history:Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/history-disease-outbreaks-vaccine-timeline/polio
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Each year 1.7 million Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) occur that contribute to 99,000 deaths and $20 billion in healthcare costs. What makes these numbers even more tragic is that 70 percent of all the HAIs are PREVENTABLE!Infection Prevent Spotlight was created by an Infection Preventionist (IP) certified in Infection Control (CIC) for other IPs and everyone else responsible for keeping patients safe from harm. It's hard for IPs to be responsible for reducing HAIs (CLABSIs, CAUTIs, SSIs, MDROs (C.diff, MRSA, VRE, CRE)) and the harm and deaths they cause as well as the financial costs of these results on Medicare reimbursement and public reporting. As an IP I understand this and that's why I've created this podcast. I wanted to make a safe place to talk about these challenges, understand the emerging issues, share the newest best practices and current research, and to be a place where IPs could support each other in our journey to zero Harm. Infection Prevention and Control spans multiple areas: hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgery centers, dialysis centers, ambulance companies / emergency management, schools, and even our homes. My hope is that Infection Prevention Spotlight will provide you with the motivation, knowledge, and quick tips to take back to your team, facility, for your own journey where ever it may be and prevent HAIs by engaging, communicating, leading, demonstrating, reviewing, and teaching about: hand hygiene (HH) |hand washing; indwelling catheters; central venous catheters; surgical procedures; isolation procedures / isolation precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne); Standard precautions; hospital leadership, IP systems and staff training; personal protective equipment; environmental services; linen / laundry; Reprocessing of non-critical equipment, semi-critical equipment (high-level disinfection), reusable critical equipment/instruments/devices (sterilization); ventilator / respiratory therapy; environmental disinfection / cleaning; antibiotic stewardship; performance improvement; and Survey Readiness. We are stronger together, let’s make it to zero and save lives.