Background: In 1999, licensed health care facilities in California (N = 2532) were invited to participate in a survey about occupational bloodborne pathogens exposure surveillance activities, recordkeeping methods, an...
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Background: In 1999, licensed health care facilities in California (N = 2532) were invited to participate in a survey about occupational bloodborne pathogens exposure surveillance activities, recordkeeping methods, and use of safety-enhanced sharps devices. Results: A total of 12 74 facilities responded to the survey from January 1999 through August 1999 (response rate = 50%). Sharps-related injuries were recorded for multiple departments on various forms in diverse manners. Only 66% of hospitals, 37% of home health agencies, and 33% of skilled nursing facilities reported sharps injuries on a mandated sharps injury log. More than 70% of facilities stated that they used some type of safety device or needleless system, but this figure varied by type of device and facility type. Eighty-four percent of general acute care hospitals, 28% of home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities each had evaluated at least 1 safety-enhanced device. Almost 90% of all facilities expressed a need for educational materials on topics such as device selection and evaluation. Conclusions: Standardization of surveillance and recordkeeping activities does not exist across facility types. Standards and regulations demand complex recordkeeping activities. Increased funding for distribution of educational materials and on-site training should accompany changes in mandated reporting activities when appropriate. Increased testing and evaluation of devices across facility types are necessary to ensure that safety-enhanced devices are protective of health care workers and patients.
Background: Control of infection within the long-term care facility is a daunting problem. Elderly patients are at high risk for contracting infection because of reduced innate immunity, malnutrition, and the presence...
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Background: Control of infection within the long-term care facility is a daunting problem. Elderly patients are at high risk for contracting infection because of reduced innate immunity, malnutrition, and the presence of chronic medical conditions. This small study tested the effect of developing and implementing a comprehensive preventive infection control program in the long-term care setting and examined the resultant incidence of infections. Methods: Eight private, freestanding, long-term care facilities in urban and suburban settings were selected for the study. The 4 test sites had a total of 443 beds: there were 447 beds in 4 marched control sites. Data on infection rates were accrued in both preintervention and intervention years. The control homes maintained their existing infection control policies and procedures. The test homes were provided with an infection control educational program and replaced all currently used germicidal products with single-branded products for a 12-month period. A criteria-based standardized infection control surveillance system was used to monitor and report infections in all facilities. Results: In the preintervention year, the test sires experienced 743 infections (incidence density rate, 6.33) and the control homes experienced 614 infections (incidence density rate, 3.39). In the intervention year, the test homes reported 621 infections, a decrease of 122 infections (incidence density rate, 4.15);in the control homes, the number of infections increased slightly, to 626 (incidence density rate, 3.15). The greatest reduction in infections in the test homes was in upper respiratory infections (P = .06). Conclusions: This study provides additional evidence that a comprehensive infection control program that includes handwashing and environmental cleaning and disinfecting may help reduce infections among the elderly residing in long-term care settings.
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