You may be wondering why this article is specifically focused on health care-associated infections (HAIs) while so many changes are occurring in health care. Unfortunately, there are a few powerful forces that have collided over one specific spot that makes this focus on HAIs significant. With the continued rise in multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), an […]
Endoscopic procedures involve a flexible or rigid tube with a light and camera attached to it which is inserted into an organ cavity. This invasive imaging technique is sometimes combined with specific surgical procedures. Endoscopes fall into categories based on the area of the body that they investigate. The Food and Drug Administration states that […]
A tipping point is defined as “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” This definition can be applied in health care as it relates to health care-associated infections (HAIs). The apex has been reached and the weight is moving the entire balance of health care to incorporate change quickly. So what tipped the […]
Sterile Processing Department – How Clean is Clean?.
Several decades old advisories claim air quality culture sampling is not critical to a reduction to HAIs. Yet according to a May, 2011 article in the Journal of Infection Control, regular monitoring of airborne bacteria levels helps reduce the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Testing for airborne fungi and fibers as well as dust […]