Hand Washing to Reduce the Spread of Nosocomial Infection - Research Paper Example

 Hand Washing to Reduce the Spread of Nosocomial Infection Name: Institution: How can hospitals ensure that healthcare professionals follow the standard of hand washing to reduce the spread of nosocomial infection in hospitalized patients? Nonsocomial infections refer to infections that develop in patients in the course of hospitalization. Nonsocomial infections are often identified between 48 to 72 hours after admission. This means that infections that infections acquired before admission do not count as nonsocomial infections (Liziolia, Privitera, et al., 2008). Following the ongoing changes in healthcare delivery, other infections have also been included to the spectrum of nonsocomial infections this include health care-associated infections that encompass among others infections acquired in healthcare institutions other than acute-care institutions such as homes and nursing. Through research and healthcare studies, it is evident that nearly 5 percent of the population of patients becomes is infected in the course of hospitalization. Furthermore, increased invasive procedures have also led to an increased rate of nonsocomial infections. Currently, nearly 8% of patients who undergo invasive procedures acquire nonsocomial infections of some kind. Problem Description Healthcare professionals do not always follow the standard of hand washing when providing care to hospitalized patients. The problem of healthcare professionals not using standards of hand washing when taking care of patients has long been recognized as one of the most widespread, as well as dangerous behaviors in healthcare. Among the most common forms of nonsocomical infections include among others urinary-tract infections, pneumonia, bloodstream infections and surgical-wound infections. These infections are particularly pursuant to inventions necessary in patient care, but which conversely impair bodily defense mechanisms. In 2004, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) republished the definitions of health-care associated infections. Healthcare institutions do not always use CDC definitions in their identification of nonsocomical infections such institutions use the basic definition, which does not include infections acquired after medical treatment (Klevens, Edwards, et al., 2007). Sources of Microorganisms In the course of healthcare delivery, patients are exposed to a number of pathogenic microorganisms such as protozoa, fungi, viruses and bacteria. These pathogens can be transmitted from other patients, visitors or healthcare personnel. Other sources of pathogenic microorganisms include patient flora such as those residing in patients’ mucous membranes, respiratory tract, skin or gastrointestinal tract. These pathogens are typically quite difficult to control and deter. However, other sources of microorganisms that can be easily controlled include those that reside within the hospital environment. These include touch surfaces in patients’ rooms, equipment and medications. Infections that emanate from such external microorganisms are easily preventable through viable healthcare practices. This paper focuses on best practices employed by healthcare professionals in the prevention of nonsocomical infections in patients. Means of Transmission As earlier cited, microorganisms are spread between personnel, patients and visitors. This is primarily done through numerous routes such as direct and indirect contact, airborne spread, respiratory droplets and common vehicles. Contact transmission is one of the most important, as well as frequent transmission modes within the healthcare fraternity. Direct contact between patients and healthcare personnel. According to the CDC, contact is the main means of transmission and can be curtailed through simple healthcare practices if implemented effectively in all healthcare institutions. Prevention Practices Prevention practices encompass modules and behaviors aimed at the deterrence of infections in patients, especially as a result of contact. Hand hygiene among healthcare professionals is perhaps the best practice toward the prevention of nonsocomical infections. Because healthcare professionals serve many patients in a single day, the chances of transmitting infections among these patients are quite high. Administrators of healthcare institution must, therefore, ensure that healthcare professionals exercise appropriate hand hygiene protocols to deter the transmission of infections. For instance, administrators must ensure that the facility’s personnel are conversant with practices allowed by the CDC with regard to transmission prevention (Katz, 2008). Hand hygiene is a renowned healthcare practice that has been in existence for the last 160 years. In his seminal work on the influence of hand washing practices, Hungarian obstetrician, Ignaz Semmelweis showed evidence that hand washing can lower hand contamination in healthcare professionals, which in turn results, in lower rates of patient infections. Epidemiological studies further demonstrate the positive and cost-benefit ratio, as well as favorable effects of simple procedures such as hand washing for the prevention of pathogenic transmissions within healthcare institutions. The use of hand antiseptic soaps, which entail soaps that contain chlorhexidine and other alcohol-based hand rubs also, reduces the incident of transmission by reducing bacterial counts on hands, when the antiseptic is used appropriately (Aodhán and Breathnacha, 2007). Although the distinct benefits of hand washing in healthcare institutions has previously been verified in a number of occasions, it is notable that the use of hand washing practices remains inconsistent across the globe. This has thus become a global issue, which has pushed international healthcare organizations such as the World Health Organization to push for the universal and consistent adoption of hand washing practices in healthcare institutions. Healthcare institution administrators are, therefore, tasked with the mandate to provide a ready supply of hand washing materials such as antiseptic soaps and alcohol-based hand rubs, in all healthcare facilities. Despite the understanding of the essence of such materials, it is not unusual to come across healthcare professionals using normal soaps as hand hygiene practices. While normal soaps are essential for the prevention of a majority of microorganisms, it is paramount to note that such soaps are ineffective in dealing with most pathogenic microorganisms. The World Alliance for Patient Safety (WAPS) that was instituted through the World Health Organization (WHO) advocates the implementation of infection reduction programs in all healthcare institutions. WAPS is a staunch advocator for best practices in hand hygiene. As a measure to ensure adherence to hand hygiene best practices among healthcare professionals, administrators should deal with the problem of understaffing and overcrowding in such facilities. Studies show a distinct link between the occurrence of increased infection rates and overcrowding in healthcare facilities and understaffing. Healthcare institutions with low nurse staffing and patient overcrowding often witness poor adherence to best practices of hand hygiene, which have in turn been associated with greater negative outcomes, as well as infection outbreaks in such facilities. This essentially means that healthcare facility administrators must ensure appropriate nurse staffing levels, as well as patient numbers. Patient-to-nurse ratios should be maintained at optimal levels to prevent the incident of nonsocomical infections. In an ICU setting, understaffing of nurses within the facilities result in the spread of MRSA as a results of relaxed attention to essential infection control measures such as hand washing. When the assigned staff members are fewer than the quantity necessitated by the current workload, there is often the incident of relaxed attention to hand hygiene protocols. When workload demands are highest, staff typically wash their hands before contacting devices, but not when different contacting patients. However, hand washing practices, though viable in the prevention of infection transmission, must be conducted according to best practices in healthcare facilities. Best practices of hand hygiene involve the use of antiseptics and other alcohol-based soaps. However, in order for such hand washing to be considered effectively, healthcare professionals must wash their hands every time they come into contact with tough surfaces in the hospital environment. In addition, healthcare professionals must ensure they wash their hands after coming in contact with infected patients. Gloving is also essential in the maintenance of hand hygiene. Gloving is essential as it deters hand contamination, as well as deterring transmissions. Best practices for gloving entail the use of clean gloves when coming into contact with all patients. Gloving is of paramount importance as a hand hygiene measure (Chan, Huang, Lin, et al. 2007). Conclusion Nonsocomical infections are serious infections spread during the course of patient hospitalization. Such infections are quite dangerous as they result in lower defenses, in patient bodily systems. In order to deter the occurrence of nonsocomical infections, hand hygiene is of paramount importance. Hand hygiene lowers the occurrence of infection by lowering hand contamination, as well as lowering the chances of transmission. Best practices in hand hygiene entail the use of antiseptics and alcohol-based soaps. However, in order to ensure that healthcare professionals adhere to hand washing practices, facility administrators must play their role. These roles entail among others ensuring the constant availability of hand washing materials, providing guidance on best hand washing practices and ensuring optimal numbers of patients and staff. It is essential that all healthcare professionals ensure adherence to the best hand washing practices to curtail the occurrence of nonsocomical infections, as well as other transmittable diseases. References Aodhán, S. and Breathnacha, P. (2007). “Nosocomial infections”. Medicine: 33, 22-26. Chan, P.C., Huang, L.M., Lin, H.C, et al. (2007). "Control of an outbreak of pandrug- resistant Acinetobacter baumannii colonization and infection in a neonatal intensive care unit". Infection Control Hospitals Epidemiology 28 (4): 423–9. Katz, JD. (2008). "Hand washing and hand disinfection: more than your mother taught you". Anesthesiol Clinical North America 22 (3): 457–71. Klevens, R.M., Edwards, J.R. et al. (2007). "Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, 2002". Public Health Reports 122 (2): 160–6.  Liziolia, A., Privitera, G. et al. (2008). “Prevalence of nosocomial infections: Result from surveys in 2000. Journal of Hospital Infections 54:141-8. Read More