Hospital personnel can implement various strategies to reduce the spread of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi like Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus:

1. Hand Hygiene:

• This remains the most critical step. Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential before and after patient contact, after removing gloves, and after touching potentially contaminated surfaces.
• Alcohol-based hand rubs can be used for hand disinfection when handwashing with soap and water is not readily available. However, they are not effective against spores from fungi like Aspergillus.

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Wear appropriate PPE such as gloves, gowns, and masks based on the risk of exposure during specific procedures.
• Doff (remove) PPE properly after each use to avoid contaminating clothing or the environment. This involves removing gloves first, followed by the gown and mask, minimizing contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
• Launder reusable PPE following manufacturer’s instructions or discard disposable PPE after use.

3. Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection:

• Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like computer keyboards, doorknobs, bed rails, and stethoscopes with hospital-grade disinfectants effective against bacteria and fungi.
• Follow established protocols for cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms, especially after discharge or isolation precautions are lifted.
• Pay particular attention to high-risk areas like operating rooms and intensive care units.

4. Proper Handling of Linen and Waste:

• Soiled linen and waste should be handled with care to minimize contamination.
• Utilize leak-proof containers for waste disposal.
• Launder soiled linen according to established protocols.

5. Education and Training:

• Regularly educate and train hospital personnel on infection prevention and control practices.
• Emphasize the importance of hand hygiene, proper PPE use, and environmental cleaning protocols.

6. Monitoring and Surveillance:

• Regularly monitor for outbreaks of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
• Identify and implement corrective actions to address any trends or clusters of infections.

Additional Considerations:

• Length of Gown Use: While traditional guidelines suggest changing gowns after each patient contact, recent studies suggest gowns can be reused for multiple low-risk patient interactions within a single shift, reducing waste and cost, as long as the gown remains visibly clean and uncontaminated.
• Managing Biofilms: Certain bacteria can form biofilms on surfaces, making them more resistant to disinfection. Hospitals should implement strategies to prevent biofilm formation and ensure cleaning protocols effectively remove biofilms.

By consistently implementing these measures and staying updated on best practices, hospital personnel can significantly reduce the spread of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi, protecting patients and staff from HAIs.