Pages

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Effective Strategies For Infection Control

----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------

By George Nelson


Research by Center for Disease Control or CDC indicates that one in every 20 patients admitted in a health facility will contract an infection from healthcare handling. The good news is that these infections can be controlled and prevented all together. Infection control measures advocated do not cost a dime and are easy to implement. They include maintaining basic hygiene like washing hands as well as working as a team on a health strategy.

Hand washing is the simplest, easiest and most cost effective way of preventing infections. It has to be incorporated as part of organizational culture. For instance, surgical teams should wash their forearms and hands before performing any procedure. They must also use gloves and use the method referred to as clean in clean out when washing their hands.

Work on the surrounding environment. Experts state that a dirty environment will breed and spread all kinds of infectious microorganisms. Cleaning the environment gets rid of them. Both the patients and care givers are bound to touch the surfaces while at work and effectively spread diseases. House keepers must pay attention to all areas and develop a comprehensive cleaning plan. Sanitary hygiene must also receive a lot of attention.

The procedure of admitting patients must include screening and cohorting. The idea is to restrain patients from mixing with others whose infections are different. Mixing leads to cross infection which worsens the conditions. The mode through which diseases are spread should be of interest to care givers. This will prevent spread through preventable means.

Vaccination has been used for years in preventing infections. This should apply to all staff in an organization or facility. The fact that they are in constant contact makes it easy to contract and spread diseases. There are recommended vaccinations for health care workers. Ensure that each worker is vaccinated and received quick medical attention every time a health concern arises.

Surveillance should be a priority for all stakeholders in a health facility. The idea is to watch out for danger signs on people and the environment. Gather data and share it with all persons involved. Identify points of vulnerability and take precautionary measures. Every stakeholder must take an active part in guaranteeing the health of the facility.

The efforts to protect a health facility from infections should be coordinated. It requires proactive approach to control. All efforts will be futile if one arm or section of workers is not involved. It is like a puncture that will eventually cause the entire vehicle to stall. In case one group of workers is uncertain or doubtful of their role in keeping the facility safe, they must be reassured.

Team work in protecting the facility and people working or visiting it is crucial. All departments and individuals must be accountable of their actions and actively play their role. It is necessary for everyone to know that protection measures are geared towards keeping everyone safe.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment