American Journal of Critical Care. 2009;18: 41 doi:10.4037/ajcc2009483
Copyright © 2009 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
The AJCC Patient Care Page is a service of the American Journal of Critical Care and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Designed to elaborate AACN practice guidelines based on content in select articles, this page may be photocopied noncommercially for use by readers in their work-place, in continuing education programs, or for distribution to colleagues, patients, or patients’ families. To purchase bulk reprints, call (800) 899-1712.
Health Care–Associated Infection
By
Laura McNamara, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5% to 10% of hospitalized patients develop a health care–associated infection (HAI). HAI is among the top 10 causes of death in the United States, and researchers estimate that $4.5 billion to $6.5 billion extra are spent treating HAI each year. The cost is even higher in patients who develop methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
Patients requiring intensive care are at particularly high risk for acquiring HAI. Several factors likely contribute to this problem: increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance, progressively more complex medical procedures, technology that places patients at risk for device-related infections, and a rising elderly and immunocompromised patient population. Yet even simple environmental objects such as bath basins have been shown to be a reservoir for bacteria and may serve as a potential source of transmission for HAI.
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Here’s what you can do:
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Preventing HAI has become a national priority. Here are several ways you can help:
- Be vigilant and rigorous about your own hand hygiene.
- Take consistent contact precautions when indicated.
- Engage in regular environmental surveillance and cleaning.
- Implement bundles designed to reduce incidence of central line–associated bloodstream infection, surgical site infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and MRSA.
- Speak up when aseptic technique is broken during a procedure or treatment.
- Promote education on HAI prevention for health care personnel who care for at-risk patients.
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Other helpful resources:
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- Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Health-care–Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals (www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/iche/2008/29/s1)
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement (www.ihi.org)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)
- Refer to the following AACN Practice Alerts: Preventing Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, VAP Education Program, Severe Sepsis, and Oral Care in the Critically Ill (see www.aacn.org, click on "Practice Alerts")
Published as a supplement to the article by Johnson and colleagues, "Patients’ Bath Basins as Potential Sources of Infection: A Multicenter Sampling Study" (
American Journal of Critical Care. 2009;18[1]:31–40[Abstract/Free Full Text]
).
Related articles in AJCC:
- Patients’ Bath Basins as Potential Sources of Infection: A Multicenter Sampling Study
- Debra Johnson, Lauri Lineweaver, and Lenora M. Maze
AJCC 2009 18: 31-40.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
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Here's what you can...
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