Question

Some potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including strains of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus, can survive for one to three months on a variety of materials found in hospitals, including scrub suits, lab coats, and plastic aprons and computer keyboards. What can hospital personnel do to reduce the spread of these pathogens?

Short answer

Hospital personnel can reduce the spread of these pathogens through consistent hand hygiene, implementation of effective surface cleaning and disinfection procedures, appropriate use of personal protective equipment and strict regulation of visitors.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the mode of transmission

It's essential to understand that these microorganisms can be transferred through direct contact with these surfaces or indirect contact when these surfaces contaminate hands and then are brought to the face or other sterile areas.

Reminding and educating about hygiene

Hospital personnel should be reminded and educated about routine hand hygiene. This includes handwashing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, particularly before and after patient contact. This simple act can greatly reduce the transfer of pathogens.

Regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces

An effective cleaning and disinfection schedule should be implemented. High-touch surfaces like keyboards, lab coats, and aprons should be cleaned and disinfected frequently using appropriate cleaning agents such as hydrogen peroxide, which have been proven to be effective against a wide array of pathogens.

Use of Protective gears

Staff members should use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, and gowns while dealing with patients, and dispose of them properly after use.

Managing patient visitors

Strict visitor rules can also reduce the spread of pathogens. Visitors should follow proper hygiene practice and possibly limit the number of visitors as well as the duration of visits

Key concepts

Pathogen Transmission

Understanding how pathogens spread within hospital settings is crucial to controlling hospital-acquired infections. These infections are typically transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Direct transmission involves immediate transfer of microorganisms to a susceptible host from an infected or colonized person, often via the hands of healthcare workers or through patient-to-patient contact. Meanwhile, indirect transmission occurs when pathogens are spread to a susceptible person via an intermediate object or surface, such as medical equipment, healthcare workers' clothing, or even computer keyboards, as mentioned in the exercise.

Regular hand hygiene and surface disinfection are key strategies in preventing both types of pathogen transmission. For instance, the exercise highlights that certain bacteria and fungi can survive for extended periods on various materials, indicating the necessity for hospital personnel to adhere strictly to hygiene protocols to reduce the spread of these pathogens.

Hygiene Practices in Healthcare

Hygiene practices in healthcare settings are the foundation of preventing the spread of infections. These practices include routine handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially before and after contact with patients. Proper hand hygiene removes or kills pathogens that have been accumulated on healthcare workers’ hands from various sources.

It's also important for healthcare personnel to be regularly educated and reminded about the importance of these hygiene practices. Techniques such as the 'five moments of hand hygiene' endorsed by the World Health Organization are designed to guide healthcare workers on when to clean their hands to effectively break the chain of pathogen transmission.

Disinfection Protocols

Disinfection protocols are a set of procedures aimed at eliminating pathogens on surfaces and equipment in healthcare settings. These protocols often define how and when different high-touch surfaces should be cleaned, what disinfectants should be used, and the contact time necessary for the disinfectants to be effective. As outlined in the exercise solution, surfaces such as keyboards and lab coats that can harbor pathogens for months should be frequently cleaned.

Effective substances like hydrogen peroxide can be used against a wide range of microorganisms. Healthcare facilities must follow these protocols diligently, ensuring that there is a regular schedule for cleaning and that the staff is properly trained on the use of disinfectants to maintain a safe environment for both patients and healthcare workers.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is another vital layer of defense against the transmission of infectious agents. PPE, such as gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection, provide a barrier between the wearer and potential sources of infection. The use of PPE not only protects the healthcare workers but also minimizes the risk of transmission to patients.

Proper donning and doffing procedures for PPE are essential to avoid self-contamination. Additionally, PPE must be disposed of correctly after use to ensure pathogens are contained and not spread further. Training and periodic reinforcement of proper PPE use are necessary, just as reminding hospital personnel of the importance of these protections, as highlighted in the exercise solution.