June is always a busy month for tradeshows. This week was no exception as my colleagues
and I attended APIC 2012 in San Antonio, TX.
I never did find the other delegate who had #0222 on their pin, but with
over 2000 people walking around is it any wonder and I sure had fun walking up
to people and asking what number are you?
and I attended APIC 2012 in San Antonio, TX.
I never did find the other delegate who had #0222 on their pin, but with
over 2000 people walking around is it any wonder and I sure had fun walking up
to people and asking what number are you?
understatement. If you so choose, there
are sessions from 6am in the morning and evening symposiums that run until 8 or
9pm (the non-educational functions run later if you know what I mean!). There were 238 exhibitors with booths ranging
from mediocre to SPECTACULAR hocking all sorts of infection prevention and
control related items…and some not so infection prevention and control items. The 9 hours of exhibit time over three days
made some serious strategizing to ensure you saw what you wanted to!
Infection Preventionist could want and Dr. William Rutala’s talk the opening
morning was packed with people standing and sitting on the floor! Truth be told, if they walked to the far side
of the room there were plenty of chairs available! There were two workshops focusing on
disinfection: 2.5 hrs focusing on the role environmental contamination plays in
transmission of HAIs and 2.5 hrs on High-Level Disinfection, Sterilization and
Antisepsis. All heady stuff if like me
you’re a bit geeky on the topic if disinfection!
“Antisepsis/Disinfection/Sterilization” grouping the ones of particular
interest were:
• Disinfect To Protect – Developing a System to Enhance
Disinfection of Patient Care Equipment.
The researchers after the initial audit found that equipment
disinfection occurring only 47% of the time (that’s only slightly better than
typical Hand Hygiene rates – no wonder we spread HAIs!) After the intervention
the compliance increased to 74.3%, but that still leaves a whack of dirty
equipment out there waiting to be used and waiting to spread HAIs!
Disinfection of Patient Care Equipment.
The researchers after the initial audit found that equipment
disinfection occurring only 47% of the time (that’s only slightly better than
typical Hand Hygiene rates – no wonder we spread HAIs!) After the intervention
the compliance increased to 74.3%, but that still leaves a whack of dirty
equipment out there waiting to be used and waiting to spread HAIs!
• Hydrogen Peroxide Patient Privacy Cubical Curtain Cleaning
Study. Privacy curtains have been found
to carry high loads of pathogens and as a frequently touched surface between
laundering of the curtains the researchers investigated is spraying a 3% H2O2
solution would decrease the bioburden and found that in fact after just 5 mins
of dry time the bio-burden significantly decreases.
Study. Privacy curtains have been found
to carry high loads of pathogens and as a frequently touched surface between
laundering of the curtains the researchers investigated is spraying a 3% H2O2
solution would decrease the bioburden and found that in fact after just 5 mins
of dry time the bio-burden significantly decreases.
• Cleaning Practices for Hospital Mattresses in Top US
Adult Hospitals. The researchers conducted a survey of the top 113 Hospitals in
the US to learn what products and procedures cleaning for mattresses to
determine if they met the recommended cleaning practices (clean with soap and
water, disinfect the surface and the rinse the surface. Of the 69 hospitals that participated in the
survey, only 6 reported rinsing off the disinfectant while only 16/69 cleaned
with a detergent prior to disinfection.
Cleaning recommendations are not followed which may lead to failure in
adequate cleaning and disinfection and may also damage the surface of the mattress.
Adult Hospitals. The researchers conducted a survey of the top 113 Hospitals in
the US to learn what products and procedures cleaning for mattresses to
determine if they met the recommended cleaning practices (clean with soap and
water, disinfect the surface and the rinse the surface. Of the 69 hospitals that participated in the
survey, only 6 reported rinsing off the disinfectant while only 16/69 cleaned
with a detergent prior to disinfection.
Cleaning recommendations are not followed which may lead to failure in
adequate cleaning and disinfection and may also damage the surface of the mattress.
on the APIC Website: http://ac2012.site.apic.org/files/2012/06/AC2012_final_onsite.pdf
be sure to check them out!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
