It's not that I jump at the chance to languish in other
people's misfortunes...BUT when there is a lesson to learn and the
"misfortune" provides a great example of what not to do, or why we
shouldn't do something, you’d want to
bet I'm going to exploit it.
people's misfortunes...BUT when there is a lesson to learn and the
"misfortune" provides a great example of what not to do, or why we
shouldn't do something, you’d want to
bet I'm going to exploit it.
Case in point... All non-emergency operations have been
cancelled at a Cumbrian hospital following an outbreak of Norovirus and the North Cumbria
University Hospitals NHS Trust have barred children from visiting until
further notice.
cancelled at a Cumbrian hospital following an outbreak of Norovirus and the North Cumbria
University Hospitals NHS Trust have barred children from visiting until
further notice.
Why you ask? NOROVIRUS! Some of us may have been fooled that because
spring has sprung the pesky winter vomiting disease has "left the
building", but in reality Norovirus can pop up at any time and in closed
spaces where we have elderly and/or sick people it can run rampant. The truth is for some hospital associated
outbreaks, the initial cause was a family member who just "had" to
visit their great-aunt Ethel, Granny, Grampy or sibling, cousin or friend who
just had a baby. People, if you're
feeling under the weather or are sick....STAY HOME!
spring has sprung the pesky winter vomiting disease has "left the
building", but in reality Norovirus can pop up at any time and in closed
spaces where we have elderly and/or sick people it can run rampant. The truth is for some hospital associated
outbreaks, the initial cause was a family member who just "had" to
visit their great-aunt Ethel, Granny, Grampy or sibling, cousin or friend who
just had a baby. People, if you're
feeling under the weather or are sick....STAY HOME!
In this situation, cases of Norovirus began cropping up in
January, and after a review of the more than 200 confirmed cases at the two Cumbria, UK, hospitals, the infection
prevention control team stated there
were “significant concerns” over the standard of cleanliness and determined
that, “Cleaning staff are reusing mops contaminated with norovirus.”
January, and after a review of the more than 200 confirmed cases at the two Cumbria, UK, hospitals, the infection
prevention control team stated there
were “significant concerns” over the standard of cleanliness and determined
that, “Cleaning staff are reusing mops contaminated with norovirus.”
Things that make you go hmmm......or GROSS!
This is a great and not uncommon example of the breakdown in
cleaning protocols. This breakdown may
occur as a result of the fact that training just hasn't been provided (e.g. the
housekeeper has had no formal training in the differences of cleaning for
health in healthcare facilities vs. what they're mom taught them...). There are some organisms (Norovirus being a
great example) that can survive on surfaces
for extremely long periods of time and can EASILY be moved from one surface to
another via contaminated hands or as it appears in this case, from a surface
(fomite....e.g. cleaning cloth or mop) to another surface which subsequently
lead to transmission...
cleaning protocols. This breakdown may
occur as a result of the fact that training just hasn't been provided (e.g. the
housekeeper has had no formal training in the differences of cleaning for
health in healthcare facilities vs. what they're mom taught them...). There are some organisms (Norovirus being a
great example) that can survive on surfaces
for extremely long periods of time and can EASILY be moved from one surface to
another via contaminated hands or as it appears in this case, from a surface
(fomite....e.g. cleaning cloth or mop) to another surface which subsequently
lead to transmission...
There are a number of studies that talk to the importance of
cleaning and disinfection to combat / stop outbreaks. There are also numerous studies that focus on
the importance of cleaning compliance (e.g. if you don't clean it, you don't
kill it). In February of this year a new
study was published in the American Journal of Infection Control that concluded
the use of an effective disinfectant in conjunction with a clear protocol for
how to clean and disinfect the environment (e.g. lots of training had occurred)
and a compliance program where surfaces were being monitored for cleanliness
reduced HAIs (VRE, MRSA and C.diff) by 20%.
cleaning and disinfection to combat / stop outbreaks. There are also numerous studies that focus on
the importance of cleaning compliance (e.g. if you don't clean it, you don't
kill it). In February of this year a new
study was published in the American Journal of Infection Control that concluded
the use of an effective disinfectant in conjunction with a clear protocol for
how to clean and disinfect the environment (e.g. lots of training had occurred)
and a compliance program where surfaces were being monitored for cleanliness
reduced HAIs (VRE, MRSA and C.diff) by 20%.
In the case of Cumbria, ensuring that housekeeping staff had
adequate training, had clear protocols in terms of how to clean and understood
the risk of Norovirus transmission would (at least in my opinion), have
minimized the size of the outbreak.
Don't get me wrong, Norovirus can spread easily - just look at what
happens aboard cruise ships. BUT, when
you have processes in place to ensure you are effectively marrying products
with protocols the end results will be inhalation of the bug you’re combating
or in the case of the study noted above....not allowing it to rear its head in
the first place!
adequate training, had clear protocols in terms of how to clean and understood
the risk of Norovirus transmission would (at least in my opinion), have
minimized the size of the outbreak.
Don't get me wrong, Norovirus can spread easily - just look at what
happens aboard cruise ships. BUT, when
you have processes in place to ensure you are effectively marrying products
with protocols the end results will be inhalation of the bug you’re combating
or in the case of the study noted above....not allowing it to rear its head in
the first place!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
