Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – September 1, 2008
September 1, 2008
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Change the culture, protect the patient using 'positive deviance' to prevent MRSA
An increasing number of hospitals are applying an exotic-sounding philosophy to solve an all too ordinary problem: patient infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). -
Johns Hopkins cuts MRSA rates with PD approach
One of the leading hospitals in the country has slashed infection rates with an approach called "positive deviance" (PD) that encourages frontline workers to share novel solutions to day-to-day problems. -
CEO takes it personal after baby deaths in outbreak
How serious did Charlotte, NC-based Novant Health decide to take MRSA infections after an outbreak among premature infants left the hospital with two dead babies? Posters went up on the walls that featured a child in a hospital bed with the caption, "You could kill him with your bare hands." -
A 'big-picture' approach to Joint Commission SSI goal
As the Joint Commission makes preventing surgical-site infections (SSIs) a national patient safety goal next year some infection preventionists may be more ready than others to meet the full panoply of phased-in requirements. -
Don't 'SCIP' the patient in SSI prevention effort
The SCIP Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) is not just for clinicians. There is a message for patients as well: Know the risks and protect yourself. -
Minnesota makes the call on MRSA isolation
The Minnesota Department of Health has issued guidelines for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that address an issue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has left unresolved: when to discontinue contact isolation precautions. -
Minnesota guidance for dropping MRSA isolation
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends the following for discontinuing contact isolation and "removing patient flags" for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: -
The Joint Commission Update for Infection Control: The Joint Commission drops MRSA active surveillance in 2009 patient safety goals
Conceding that there is too much debate and controversy about the practice, the Joint Commission has dropped a proposed requirement in its 2009 patient safety goals to conduct active surveillance cultures (ASC) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). -
The Joint Commission Update for Infection Control: Implement best practices to prevent CA-BSIs
The Joint Commission new 2009 national patient safety goal to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSIs; NPSG.07.04.01) calls for use of use of a common-sense but once controversial checklist to ensure a standardized protocol is followed for central venous catheter insertion. -
The Joint Commission Update for Infection Control: SSI goal: Look for infections a month after procedure
The Joint Commission new national patient safety goal to prevent surgical-site infections (SSIs; NPSG.07.05.01) includes a requirement to look for SSIs out to 30 days after the procedure raising the difficult but critical issue of post- discharge surveillance.