Given the critical care and cost implications of healthcare associated infections (HAIs), every hospital should perform regular IP gap assessments and keep their IP plan updated annually or as critical changes are made within their system of care. Hospital IP and EVS groups must then communicate this work to the larger hospital leadership and staff to maximize efficacy of its IP efforts. While there are many areas to consider, one good place to start is focusing upon areas of highest concern and highest possibility of mitigation. By quantifying the risks (both health and financial) of those gaps and deploying solutions that address many of them in the most efficient and effective way, you’ll be able to lower infection risk with one comprehensive plan.
Common Infections
Of the 1.7 million infections that occur each year, about half are lung or blood infections. Pneumonia is very common, particularly post-surgery, where mortality rates are as high as 33 percent. About 30 percent are urinary tract infections, while the remaining 20 percent are surgical wound infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are particularly problematic with studies showing one in 20 hospital patients either becoming infected or carrying the infection. C. difficile infections, the cause of an estimated 15,000 deaths, is also a substantial cause of infectious disease.
Focus Your IP Planning on These Top Health Concerns
When looking at your organization’s IP planning, focus on these top health concerns, the areas of the hospital in which they most often occur, and the departments that are most at risk. It might be necessary to have representation from various departments to better understand their unique IP process so you can identify areas for improvement. Then you can deploy the right tools throughout the hospital to fight the underlying causes of HAIs. Frequent, proactive use of UVC helps reduce the pool of pathogens in your hospital environments. However, the technology only proves effective when it delivers the exact dose necessary to kill the specific microorganisms that cause infections. RD UVC is the only system that confirms the actual lethal UVC dose is delivered, proving compliance with IP protocol.
Performing an Infection Control Gap Assessment
Download “Performing an Infection Control Gap Assessment,” which outlines what an effective gap assessment and IP plan should contain, how to identify evidence-based solutions, cost and ROI calculation support, and a guide to develop quality reporting.