Impeccable Hygiene Slows Spread of Dangerous Infections
Aventura, FL (March 5, 2007) – News of the dangers of E. coli and salmonella has been making headlines across the nation. But, schools, locker rooms and public spaces across our communities could be harboring a lesser known, but even more dangerous bacteria. A new strain of antibiotic-resistant staph, or MRSA, is spread easily and is much more difficult to treat than ordinary staph bacteria.
The growing prevalence of community-associated MRSA is also creating new challenges for the healthcare community. In response, Aventura Hospital and Medical Center and HCA have initiated more aggressive infection control protocols to tackle this issue, as well as a proactive education campaign for patients, visitors and staff to prevent infections from occurring and spreading.
“Our hospital is focused on providing the highest quality care possible to our patients,” said Kathleen Morris, Vice President of Quality Management of Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. “Fortunately, stopping the spread of MRSA is something we know how to accomplish; it takes focus and discipline. In collaboration with our physicians, who share our commitment to quality patient care, we are initiating new protocols including screening high-risk patients for MRSA. The new protocols will ensure we can provide appropriate care and precautions in instances where patients test positive for MRSA upon arrival at the hospital.”
“Healthy individuals who have no symptoms of MRSA may unintentionally spread the bacteria to others,” said Natarajan Rajagopalan, M.D., Chief of Staff of Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. “Community-associated MRSA spreads through skin-to-skin contact, cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene.”
The CDC has documented clusters of MRSA skin infections among young, healthy people, including athletes, military recruits and children. CDC data from 2003 suggests that 12% of clinical MRSA infections were community-associated. The frequency today is likely much higher.
The measures initiated at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center are being implemented at 170 hospitals across the nation under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, HCA’s chief medical officer. Perlin joined the company last fall after serving as chief executive officer of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, where he initiated a similar program.
“Our hospitals are committed to safe, effective, efficient and compassionate care - That means eliminating avoidable hospital infections” said Perlin. “100 percent hand hygiene is the simplest, most effective method for preventing infections including MRSA, both in the community and in a healthcare environment. We believe this important public health issue calls for public education, increased vigilance and even more stringent infection control protocols in our hospitals to assure the best outcomes for our patients. In short, cleaner is safer, and safer is best!”
Morris said that we can all minimize our chance of acquiring or spreading all kinds of infection by following these “ABC”: steps:
-
Active surveillance – Monitor all wounds and keep them covered. If you have a skin infection which requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested.
-
Barrier precautions – Keep personal items personal – avoid sharing towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads through contaminated.
-
Conscientious hand washing – Your best defense against germs is soap and water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Thoroughly soap and scrub hands for at least 15 seconds, dry with a disposable towel and use another to turn off the faucet.
-
Disinfect – Clean shared items. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in hot water with added bleach, then dry in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center is a 407 acute care medical/surgery facility providing award –winning inpatient and outpatient diagnostic, medical, surgical, cardiovascular and cancer services to the communities of northeast Miami-Dade and southeast Broward counties since 1965.
Staffed by more than 700 physicians representing over 50 specialties and 1,300 employees, the hospital meets the healthcare needs of its neighboring communities through continuous program enhancement and service excellence.
;){kind=link}