January 25, 2010
In This Issue:
PIDAC's Latest BP Document
Blackberries not allowed
Congratulations!
Automated Dilution Systems
Medical Advisory - Razor Blades
Infection Control and Hospital Design
WEBBER TELECLASSES:
January 28th
Improved Oral Hygiene in Intubated Patient to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
February 9th
Post-Discharge Surveillance Made Easy (British Teleclass)
February 11th
International Trends in Sharpes Injury Preventions
February 17th
Influenza H1N1 - The Southern Hemisphere Experience
To view the 2010 scheduleclick here.
SAVE THE DATE:
2010 Annual Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance
Feb 1-3, 2010
Bethesda, MD
Information...
4th Annual Symposium on Infection Control in Healthcare Facility Design & Construction
Feb 18, 2010
Toronto, ON
Information...
Registration...
CSA - Practical Applications in Infection Control During Construction & Renovation of Healthcare Facilities
March 3-4, 2010
Dundas, ON (CSICN)
Information...
Fifth Decennial Int'nl Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections (SHEA)
March 18-22, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia
Information...
CPSI's 2nd Annual Canada's Forum on Patient Safety and Q.I.
"Improving Safety Across the Continuum"
Apr 12-24, 2010
Toronto, ON
Information...
AMMI Canada - CACMID Annual Conference
May 6-8, 2010
Edmonton, AB
Information...
CHICA-Canada's 2010 National Education Conference:
"Golden Opportunities-Soaring to New Heights"
May 29-Jun 3, 2010
Vancouver, BC
Information...
Comments.
Questions?
Information Request.
We'd love to hear from you.
Contact us:
e-mail: askcsicn@hhsc.ca
phone: 905 627-3541
toll-free: 1 866 681-4916
fax: 905 627-6474
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PIDAC's Environmental Cleaning Best Practice Document 
Earlier this month the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's (MOHLTC) Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) released its latest best practice manual: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings. This document is intended for all health care providers to ensure that the critical elements and methods of decontamination, disinfection and sterilization are incorporated into health care facility procedures. The document describes essential elements and methods in the safe handling, transportation and biological decontamination of contaminated medical equipment/devices. You can find this document on the PIDAC website.
Blackberries not allowed
Most of us have been in a meeting in which at least one of the participants has paid more attention to what is going on in "cyberland" than to what is going on in the meeting they are actually physically attending. It is amazing to see how these devices disrupt meetings. Well respected and nationally renowned corporate management and operational effectiveness consultant, Fay Booker recently addressed this issue in an article entitled "Blackberries not allowed" (Hamilton Spectator, December 2009). Request a copy of this article.
Congratulations! 
Congratulations to Heidi (Webb) Willekes and Maria Ralph of the Brant County Health Unit. Heidi and Maria successfully wrote and passed the exam for Certification in Infection Control (CIC). Heidi and Maria are both Public Health Nurses at the Brant County Health Unit. Certification in Infection Control formally recognizes infection control professionals who fulfill standardized educational and practice requirements in the field. Way to go Heidi and Maria! We are proud of your accomplishments.
Automated Dilution Systems
Environmental cleaning is one of the fundamentals of infection prevention and control in health care facilities. Many facilities are using automated systems to dilute and dispense their cleaning and disinfecting products. These systems can be beneficial, as they cut the time required to properly dilute products manually, and reduce the opportunities for human error. However, if these systems can bring their own set of problems if not properly maintained. You may want to read the article entitled "Quality control is indispensable for automated dilution systems with accelerated hydrogen peroxide" to learn more about this important issue. Click here for a copy of this article.
Medical Advisory - Razor Blades 
Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) recently released a medical advisory regarding the inappropriate disinfection of straight blade razors in barber shops. The practice of using straight blade razors is not recommended as it could lead to the transmission of bloodborne infections. The risk of acquiring bloodborne infections from the re-use of razor blades is considered very low.
Recent inspections of barber shops in Hamilton have found that some barbers are re-using or have re-used straight blade razors on clients without appropriately disinfecting these tools between clients. HPHS is advising anyone who has had a shave at a barber shop to contact their barber to inquire about their shaving practices or contact Public Health Services for further information. Clients can also contact their health care provider if they feel they are at risk of a bloodborne infection.
Infection Control and Hospital Design
Hospital design can have a significant impact on patient safety. One recent study suggests that sharing a hospital room increases the risk that a patient will acquire a serious infectious disease, by as much as 10% for each roommate. Read more here... |
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