About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Hospitals' Infectious Diarrhea Prevention Efforts Is The Priority Of New Expert Guidelines

by Himabindu Venkatakrishnan on May 7, 2014 at 8:55 AM
Font : A-A+

 Hospitals' Infectious Diarrhea Prevention Efforts Is The Priority Of New Expert Guidelines

New expert guidance encourages healthcare institutions to implement and prioritize prevention efforts for infectious diarrhea, suggests drug-resistant Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the most common bacteria to cause healthcare-associated infections, with rates of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) now rivaling the bacteria. The guidelines are published in the June issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. The new practice recommendations are a part of Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Updates, a collaborative effort led by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Hospital Association, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and The Joint Commission.

"The Compendium uses a data-driven approach to focus efforts on strategies most likely to be effective," said Erik Dubberke, MD, MSPH, co-lead author. "Healthcare workers' adherence to these recommendations is vital. Any weak link in the prevention chain can lead to excessive C. difficile cases."

Advertisement

To help combat the highly infectious bacteria, experts recommend creating a multidisciplinary approach that enlists a broad scope of hospital personnel, including leadership, healthcare professionals, lab personnel, pharmacy technicians, environmental services staff, and IT professionals to collaborate and implement effective interventions. Below are recommended strategies for hospitals and other acute care settings.

  • Encourage appropriate antimicrobial use and stewardship. This includes both avoiding antimicrobial exposures if a patient does not require treatment and selecting antibiotics that pose a lower risk for developing C. difficile, when possible. This is distinct from a formal antimicrobial stewardship program, which remains a special approach to antibiotic use.
  • Use contact precautions. Hospitals are urged to treat patients with C. difficile in separate rooms from the general patient population and require healthcare professionals to don gloves and gowns whenever providing care to someone with confirmed C. difficile.
    Advertisement

    It is also recommended that healthcare professionals use dedicated patient care items and equipment in this care.
  • Practice hand hygiene. Because indirect transmission by healthcare professionals may be a major route by which patients acquire C. difficile, implementing protocol on hand hygiene is a crucial part of a successful prevention program. C. difficile differs from other drug-resistant bugs, such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) because it produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based products. This makes wearing gloves and washing hands with soap and water before every encounter with infected patients extremely important. Hand hygiene protocols should be periodically measured to ensure compliance.
  • Ensure environmental decontamination. Education of environmental support staff, including cleaning crews, is crucial to maintaining effective disinfection.. This includes proper cleaning of patient rooms and furnishings, equipment, and surfaces touched by healthcare professionals and patients.
  • Conduct surveillance and performance measures. Implementing a laboratory-based alert system to provide immediate notification of newly diagnosed patients to clinical personnel will help frontline staff monitor for outbreaks. Additionally, creating reporting systems to capture the burden of the infection at a healthcare facility and assess efficacy of prevention interventions, such as hand hygiene and contact precaution, will help healthcare institutions to continually improve efforts.

The guidelines note several areas that require more research before making recommendations.
  • Requiring use of gowns and gloves by family members and other visitors.
  • Prescribing probiotics as a treatment against C. difficile.
  • Using no touch disinfection technology.
  • Restricting use of gastric acid suppressants.

The 2014 release updates the initial 2008 Compendium publication.

Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Hospital News

 Prehabilitation: Preparing Patients for Surgery Boosts Outcomes
Is prehabilitation associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery? Yes, it improved overall function in comparison with usual care.
 Surgical Road Map for Healthcare Welfare in Low- And Middle-Income Countries
An exploratory investigation in Ghana revealed that surgical site infection was a statistically significant variable in determining postoperative healthcare costs.
 Young Heart Patients Actively Take Part in Medical Care Decisions
Adolescents and young adults preferred more patient-led active decision-making while parents preferred more parent/physician-shared decision-making.
Hand Hygiene can Keep Healthcare-associated Infections at Bay
Is hand hygiene important in hospital settings? Clean hands can help patients and staff in healthcare settings to avoid healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). So, wash your hands
How Clean Hospitals can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance may result from poor hygiene practices in hospitals or other medical facilities, stated study.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Hospitals' Infectious Diarrhea Prevention Efforts Is The Priority Of New Expert Guidelines Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests