Hand Hygiene

With influenza season approaching, health experts at a news conference held at the National Press Club by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) reinforced the need for everyone six months of age and older to get vaccinated with updated 2015-2016 vaccine. Influenza vaccination coverage estimates have steadily increased, particularly over the past five years, and are highest in young children and older adults, who are among those most vulnerable to severe complications from the flu.

Hospital environmental services (EVS) workers want to do the best job they can to keep healthcare facilities clean and ultimately protect patients from harm. But often there is a lack of understanding of proper hand hygiene protocol-and an accompanying lack of training.

A web-based program to encourage more frequent handwashing reduces the risk of catching and passing on respiratory tract infections to other household members, a randomized trial of more than 16,000 UK households published in The Lancet has found. Users of the program, called PRIMIT, also reported fewer gastrointestinal infections, a lower demand for consultations with their doctors, and fewer antibiotic prescriptions.

Surgical site infections (SSI) continue to remain a national healthcare issue, raising costs due to prolonged hospitalization, additional diagnostic tests, treatment, and sometimes additional surgery. In fact, research suggests that SSIs can extend hospitals stays by seven to 10 days and cost $27,402 per incident, accounting for up to $10 billion annually in healthcare spending. That’s why Medline is working in partnership with the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare and Cleveland Clinic to share the latest SSI findings with healthcare leaders and medical device and clinical solution developers. The goal: uncover some of today’s real problems and barriers to spark serious dialogue and solutions.

Researchers in Ireland confirm that healthcare workers' compliance with hand hygiene guidelines largely relies on workplace culture - from peer and supervisory attitude toward proper protocol and practice to accessibility of necessary supplies like soap and water, and alcohol-based handrubs.