Ever since Ignaz Semmelweis’s discovery, in 1847, that handwashing with a chlorine solution significantly reduced maternal mortality, the medical profession has been making incremental strides in the theory of infection prevention1. In the 20th century, the focus was on pathogen vectors; sanitizing and sterilizing contaminated surfaces, blocking airborne transmission, and handwashing were instrumental in reducing […]
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Why Nasal Decolonization is Needed for Infection Prevention in 2020
March 11, 2020Category: Nasal Decolonization Comments Off on Why Nasal Decolonization is Needed for Infection Prevention in 2020
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What Does “Isolation” Mean in Hospitals?
March 10, 2020What is Isolation? In the hospital setting, isolation refers to additional precautions taken to prevent transmission of infectious agents, such as bacteria or viruses, between people. When a patient is placed in hospital isolation, precautions are followed by healthcare staff and visitors to help protect the patient, individuals that have contact with them, and other […]
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Staph vs MMA: The Invisible Battle
March 6, 2020Mixed martial artists aren’t averse to risk or to pain. Cuts, bruises, and occasional broken bones are the price they willingly pay for a sport they love. However, injuries aren’t the only concern in such a close contact sport. In mixed martial arts (MMA), staph infections can often pose a greater threat. Even in the […]
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MSSA vs. MRSA: What Is the Difference?
October 21, 2019One of the first known “superbugs,” MRSA has been making headlines since the 1960s. Today, as the list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria grows, MRSA is still a major concern for healthcare providers and communities alike. MRSA’s infamous reputation shouldn’t give the impression that MSSA is a kinder, gentler strain of staph infection. The Centers for Disease […]
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How is MRSA Spread in Hospitals?
October 14, 2019One of the first “superbugs,” MRSA has been a major concern for hospitals for nearly 60 years. MRSA is a common bacterium that can cause deadly infections, but its antibiotic-resistant nature makes those infections difficult to treat — especially in healthcare environments with vulnerable patient populations. Thanks to better screening and prevention, hospital-acquired MRSA infections […]
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How to Prevent Staph Infection in Healthcare in 2020
September 13, 2019If you work in healthcare, you already have a good idea of how to prevent staph infection, but is your organization doing enough to minimize the risks? Thanks to better screening and prevention protocols, Staphylococcus aureus (staph) infection rates were on a steady decline in the US the last 15 years. […]
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Contact Precautions are difficult for Nurses. Don’t despair – there’s hope.
June 3, 2018Clean hands, don gloves, gown and mask. Treat the patient. Discard gloves, gown and mask using correct process and sequence to avoid hand and clothing contamination. Exit room. The same patient rings the call bell. EXHALE. Re-enter the room. Repeat the procedure. Anyone experienced with contact precautions (isolation) understands the importance of preventing transmission. Unfortunately, […]
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Adding Nasal Decolonization to Infection Prevention Bundles
May 30, 2017Infection Prevention Bundles with Nasal DecolonizationA bundle approach has been used to support prevention of many types of healthcare associated infections including CLABSI, CAUTI, VAP, and SSI. Over the past few years, nasal decolonization has been added as a bundle element with increasing frequency, to reduce the risk of all of these types of infections. […]
Category: Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotic Stewardship, Hospital Acquired Infections, ICU, Uncategorized Comments Off on Adding Nasal Decolonization to Infection Prevention Bundles
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Update from Marshall Medical Center – Eliminating MRSA Contact Precautions
February 3, 2017Marshall Medical Center, which includes Marshall Hospital, a fully accredited acute care facility with 113 beds located in Placerville and several outpatient facilities, adopted Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® as part of their screen and treat protocol in 2015.At the APIC 2016 conference, Nina Deatherage, BSN, RN, PHN, CIC, presented results of eliminating MRSA contact precautions at […]
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Poster Abstract from ID Week 2016 – Reducing SSIR Rates with Nozin Nasal Sanitizer
January 27, 2017Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington, Texas presented a poster at ID Week 2016: Pre- and Post-Operative Participation of Orthopedic Patients and Surgical Staff in a Novel Intervention to Reduce Staphylococcus aureus Infection. The premise of the poster abstract presentation was “overall reduction of potentially infectious bacteria in the immediate patient environment is critical to effective infection […]
Category: Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotic Stewardship, Healthcare Professionals, Hospital, Hospital Acquired Infections, ICU, Infection Control, Infection Prevention, Infectious Disease, MRSA, Nasal Decolonization, Surgical Site Infections Comments Off on Poster Abstract from ID Week 2016 – Reducing SSIR Rates with Nozin Nasal Sanitizer