When it comes to reports on the state of healthcare, I would
hazard a guess that many of us think the future is bleak. According to the newest CDC
VitalSigns report , we have some good news:
we are in fact preventing healthcare associated infections and are
saving thousands of lives. Between 2008
and 2014 some of the marked improvements include a 50% decrease in central
line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and a 17% decrease in surgical
site infections (SSIs).
hazard a guess that many of us think the future is bleak. According to the newest CDC
VitalSigns report , we have some good news:
we are in fact preventing healthcare associated infections and are
saving thousands of lives. Between 2008
and 2014 some of the marked improvements include a 50% decrease in central
line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and a 17% decrease in surgical
site infections (SSIs).
While this reduction in HAIs is moving in the right
direction and certainly improving the lives of our patients, the fight is not
over; 1 in 7 HAIs associated with catheters and/or SSIs are now being shown to
be caused by the same 6 antibiotic-resistant bacteria:
direction and certainly improving the lives of our patients, the fight is not
over; 1 in 7 HAIs associated with catheters and/or SSIs are now being shown to
be caused by the same 6 antibiotic-resistant bacteria:
- Carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) - Methicilin
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - ESBL-producing
Enterobacteriaceae (extended-spectrum β-lactamase) - Vancomycin
resistant Enterococcus (VRE) - Multidrug
resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Multidrug resistant
Acinetobacter
As
highlighted by the report, the challenge ahead is how we help to prevent
antibiotic resistant infections. The report specifies that the 3 key areas
we should be prioritizing our efforts on are: preventing the spread of bacteria
between patients, preventing infections related to surgery and/or placement of
a catheter, and improving antibiotic stewardship. For Infection Preventionists,
I’m sure this does not come as a surprise, but it does reinforce the areas that
need to be prioritized. Moving forward, it will be imperative to provide
evidence to continue to support the need for ensuring we have a robust
infection prevention program that includes sufficient staff and resources to
implement surveillance programs and other initiatives to reduce HAIs. This report emphasizes the need to ensure we
are isolating patients when necessary and the importance of knowing what the antibiotic
resistance patterns in our facilities are. In addition, it solidifies the need
to follow best practices and other recommendations for preventing SSIs or
central line and catheter infections.
highlighted by the report, the challenge ahead is how we help to prevent
antibiotic resistant infections. The report specifies that the 3 key areas
we should be prioritizing our efforts on are: preventing the spread of bacteria
between patients, preventing infections related to surgery and/or placement of
a catheter, and improving antibiotic stewardship. For Infection Preventionists,
I’m sure this does not come as a surprise, but it does reinforce the areas that
need to be prioritized. Moving forward, it will be imperative to provide
evidence to continue to support the need for ensuring we have a robust
infection prevention program that includes sufficient staff and resources to
implement surveillance programs and other initiatives to reduce HAIs. This report emphasizes the need to ensure we
are isolating patients when necessary and the importance of knowing what the antibiotic
resistance patterns in our facilities are. In addition, it solidifies the need
to follow best practices and other recommendations for preventing SSIs or
central line and catheter infections.
To those of
you in the field - kudos on a job well done!
Congratulations to the positive efforts and lives saved or improved as a
result of your diligent work. In an era
where our headlines focus on the ominous stories in an effort to fear monger
and sensationalize our healthcare, you are the unsung heroes. It will be interesting in the coming days to
see how the tabloids and news channels spin this latest one; my bet is they
focus on the negative. I think we need
to focus on the positive. Why? Just
ask yourself: where would be without the role of infection prevention? How many lives would have been lost or
adversely impacted? What would our
healthcare facilities look like if there were no Infection Preventionists? I shudder at the thought. A 50% decrease in CLABSIs and a 17% decrease
in SSIs is something to be celebrated!
you in the field - kudos on a job well done!
Congratulations to the positive efforts and lives saved or improved as a
result of your diligent work. In an era
where our headlines focus on the ominous stories in an effort to fear monger
and sensationalize our healthcare, you are the unsung heroes. It will be interesting in the coming days to
see how the tabloids and news channels spin this latest one; my bet is they
focus on the negative. I think we need
to focus on the positive. Why? Just
ask yourself: where would be without the role of infection prevention? How many lives would have been lost or
adversely impacted? What would our
healthcare facilities look like if there were no Infection Preventionists? I shudder at the thought. A 50% decrease in CLABSIs and a 17% decrease
in SSIs is something to be celebrated!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
