Summer is generally time for a little rest, relaxation
and catching up on the book list we have compiled throughout the year. As we have done for the last several years,
during the summer months we review a couple books that we think are worth
reading....or at least thinking about reading.
For those of you who attended APIC and waited patiently in line for a
signed copy of this book by none other than Didier Pittet, you may already have
it finished. For those of you who did
not attend APIC or who may have brought it home but have not yet cracked the
spine, I hope this book review entices you to include it as one of your summer
must reads!
Clean Hands Save Lives was written by Thierry Crouzet and
explores the life work and role that Didier Pittet has played in advancing how
hospitals think about hand hygiene in his attempt to follow his dream of saving
lives through clean hands. A
storyteller, Crouzet takes us on a ride through Pittet's childhood as a boy
scout, soccer and hockey team captain, and party organizer in medical
school. As the story unfolds we are
introduced to a doctor who through observation of nursing and other staff going
about their daily duties begins to understand how infections are transmitted.
explores the life work and role that Didier Pittet has played in advancing how
hospitals think about hand hygiene in his attempt to follow his dream of saving
lives through clean hands. A
storyteller, Crouzet takes us on a ride through Pittet's childhood as a boy
scout, soccer and hockey team captain, and party organizer in medical
school. As the story unfolds we are
introduced to a doctor who through observation of nursing and other staff going
about their daily duties begins to understand how infections are transmitted.
Therein lies Pittet's breakthrough thought; "instead
of striving to kill microbes in wounds, wouldn't it be more reasonable not to
put them there in the first place?" As readers we are invited to follow
the story of how Pittet carries people along with him in his question of
"Clean Hands to Save Lives", first at his own hospital where he saw
firsthand that improved hand hygiene compliance lead to decreases in HAI rates
and his eventual success of carrying this message around the globe.
of striving to kill microbes in wounds, wouldn't it be more reasonable not to
put them there in the first place?" As readers we are invited to follow
the story of how Pittet carries people along with him in his question of
"Clean Hands to Save Lives", first at his own hospital where he saw
firsthand that improved hand hygiene compliance lead to decreases in HAI rates
and his eventual success of carrying this message around the globe.
However, as Pittet learned, success is not simple or
immediate. As he came to learn, one
should not impose their ideas on others, but educate and incite to gain their
interest and agreement. Crouzet captures
not only the successes, but balances the book by including the roadblocks that
Pittet encountered along his journey and how Pittet looked to the learn from
the father of hand hygiene, Ignaz Semmelweiss, so that he may avoid the perils
and pitfalls Semmelweiss encountered in his attempt to bring hand hygiene main
stream.
immediate. As he came to learn, one
should not impose their ideas on others, but educate and incite to gain their
interest and agreement. Crouzet captures
not only the successes, but balances the book by including the roadblocks that
Pittet encountered along his journey and how Pittet looked to the learn from
the father of hand hygiene, Ignaz Semmelweiss, so that he may avoid the perils
and pitfalls Semmelweiss encountered in his attempt to bring hand hygiene main
stream.
Pittet instead chose to offer alcohol solutions to
hospital employees, educate on their benefits and provided supporting evidence
to prove that they could be used successfully to improve infection rates. In fact, in the first three years of his
program, consumption of alcohol hand products increased by 5-fold while HAIs
were reduced by 50%!
hospital employees, educate on their benefits and provided supporting evidence
to prove that they could be used successfully to improve infection rates. In fact, in the first three years of his
program, consumption of alcohol hand products increased by 5-fold while HAIs
were reduced by 50%!
Pittet's passion is hand hygiene and he drew on the
experience of Semmelweiss to better understand how to develop a hand hygiene
program and gain buy in. Perhaps after
reading the book you may draw upon Pittet's experience of implementing a hand
hygiene program to either improve upon the program at your facility or develop
a program based around your passion whatever that may be!
experience of Semmelweiss to better understand how to develop a hand hygiene
program and gain buy in. Perhaps after
reading the book you may draw upon Pittet's experience of implementing a hand
hygiene program to either improve upon the program at your facility or develop
a program based around your passion whatever that may be!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
