“The study of 153 Veterans Affairs hospitals nationwide found a 62 percent drop in the rate of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, in intensive care units over a 32-month period. There was a 45 percent drop in MRSA prevalence in other hospital wards, like surgical and rehabilitation units.
The Veterans Affairs strategy employs a “bundle” of measures that include screening all patients with nasal swabs, isolating those who test positive for MRSA, requiring that staff treating those patients wear gloves and gowns and take other contact precautions and encouraging rigorous hand washing. The results may not be easily replicated in the private sector, but they are likely to step up pressure by further undercutting the notion, prevalent at many hospitals not long ago, that infections are an unavoidable cost of doing business.”
Full Article
Showing posts with label MRSA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MRSA. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Congratulations to the Community North Progressive Care Unit!
From the Community Health Care Network Newsletter:
"The North Progressive Care Unit has now gone two years without a nosocomial MRSA infection. There is no national benchmark to compare our results with but the unit had never gone more than a quarter at a time without an infection prior to the Implementation of the MRSA bundle. This bundle consists of increased compliance with hand hygiene, proper usage of personal protective equipment (contact precautions), screening all patients admitted to the unit and isolating positives right away and increased compliance with cleaning of high touch surfaces. The implementation and ownership of this bundle of practice by staff is a great safety success story."
"The North Progressive Care Unit has now gone two years without a nosocomial MRSA infection. There is no national benchmark to compare our results with but the unit had never gone more than a quarter at a time without an infection prior to the Implementation of the MRSA bundle. This bundle consists of increased compliance with hand hygiene, proper usage of personal protective equipment (contact precautions), screening all patients admitted to the unit and isolating positives right away and increased compliance with cleaning of high touch surfaces. The implementation and ownership of this bundle of practice by staff is a great safety success story."
Monday, August 30, 2010
New Hand Washing Sign for Community
Loretta shared with me this fantastic new sign at Community. 
Notice there's a large section of the bottom that's blank. That's for staff, nurses, and providers to sign their names signifying their commitments.
-We commit that every time
we enter or exit a patient room
or treatment area, we will wash
our hands.
-We will hold one another
accountable for performing
hand hygiene.
-We will respond graciously by
saying “thank you” when we’re
reminded to wash our hands.
Notice there's a large section of the bottom that's blank. That's for staff, nurses, and providers to sign their names signifying their commitments. -We commit that every time
we enter or exit a patient room
or treatment area, we will wash
our hands.
-We will hold one another
accountable for performing
hand hygiene.
-We will respond graciously by
saying “thank you” when we’re
reminded to wash our hands.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Maine Medical Center Patient Makes Own Hand Hygiene Sign
At Maine Medical Center, they are making a special effort to educate patients and families on the importance of hand hygiene for both family members and staff. A patient on one of the units made their own door sign - Gel In, Gel Out, or Stay Out! 
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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