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 […]

What 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 […]

Mixed 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 […]

One 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 […]

One 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 […]

If 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. […]

Clean 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, […]

Infection 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.  […]

Marshall 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 […]

Baylor 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 […]