Hospital Infections are Preventable-New Technologies and Basic Steps can Help Control Rates
The Wall Street Journal has compiled a great list of how to prevent hospital infections. The list is the result of recommendations from healthcare providers, administrators as well as infection controlling agencies. The Wall Street journal list is divided into two. The first part covers newly developed technologies and procedures that can help hospitals control and lower their infection rates. The second part consists of basic steps that hospitals are currently taking to prevent infections, but can do a better job of enforcing.
The new technologies include.
- A fluorescent solution developed by an epidemiologist which can be sprayed in a room after it has been cleaned to detect missed spots.
- A shower-like cubical equipped with a fogger which can be used for sterilization.
- Computer software that allows hospital authorities to monitor any sudden infection outbreaks in any part of the hospital. Data like this can help authorities control the infection source, preventing an epidemic.
- Antibacterial hand soaps have been much maligned for their role in the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria. However, using a mild antibacterial soap for washing helps lower infection rates.
- In New Jersey, hospitals are required to report preventable errors. These laws help keep hospitals in check, motivating them to control infection rates.
The basic steps that hospitals are taking to prevent infection rates include:
- Using alcohol-based sanitizers and placing these in areas where doctors and nurses can easily find them.
- Creating checklists for use in intensive care units and surgical rooms. Checklists are an extremely simple way of monitoring simple procedures
- Hospitals have also developed portable medical kits that contain equipment necessary for simple procedures. For instance, a nurse who has to change a dressing, can have all equipment that she needs from the gauze to antibacterial solution, in the kit, minimizing the need for her to rush back to pick up something she forgot.
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia is an extremely common infection in hospital intensive care units. These conditions can be prevented by regularly cleaning the patient’s mouth, teeth and gums, and elevating the head of the bed at 30 to 35 degrees.
- Newer quick diagnostic tests can be used to check for infections quickly, with results available in a matter of hours.
Scott Grossman is a New Jersey medical malpractice lawyer representing victims of medical malpractice in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New jersey.
