Control Of Microbes: Physical, Chemical, And Antibiotic Methods
Some potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including strains of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus, can survive for one to three months on a variety of materials found in hospitals, including scrub suits, lab coats, plastic aprons, and computer keyboards. What can hospital personnel do to reduce the spread of these pathogens?
Sample Solution
Hospital personnel can implement several strategies to reduce the spread of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi:
Hand Hygiene:
- This remains the single most important step. Frequent handwashing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub is crucial before and after patient contact, after removing gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE), and between different tasks on the same patient.
- Appropriate use: Wear gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection when indicated by patient care activities and potential for contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.
- Doffing: Follow proper procedures for removing PPE to avoid contaminating clothing or the environment. This involves removing gloves first, followed by the gown, then mask and eye protection, all while ensuring no contaminated surfaces touch bare skin.
- Regular cleaning and disinfection: Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., bedrails, stethoscopes, computer keyboards) with hospital-grade disinfectants effective against the mentioned pathogens. Pay close attention to high-touch areas in patient rooms, common areas, and staff workspaces.
- Laundry practices: Follow proper laundry procedures for contaminated linens and patient gowns to ensure proper cleaning and disinfection. Some facilities may have dedicated laundry for heavily soiled or infected patient items.
- Scrubs and lab coats: Change out of scrubs and lab coats daily, especially if visibly soiled. Launder them at high temperatures appropriate for the fabric type to kill bacteria and fungi. Some facilities may have designated scrub storage areas to prevent contamination from street clothes.
- Regularly educate and train staff on proper hand hygiene, PPE use, and environmental cleaning protocols. This ensures everyone understands the importance of these practices and adheres to them consistently.
- Conduct regular audits and monitor adherence to infection control protocols. Identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Length of gown use: Some hospitals may have policies regarding the duration of gown use for a single patient encounter to minimize contamination risk.
- Hand sanitizer placement: Ensure hand sanitizer dispensers are readily available throughout the hospital at entrances/exits of patient rooms, staff work areas, and common areas.
- Antimicrobial surfaces: Some hospitals may incorporate antimicrobial surfaces in specific areas to reduce pathogen survival on frequently touched surfaces.