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February 22nd, 2010

In This Issue:


Web Resources

New Bloodborne Pathogen Guidelines

Fighting Germs Using The Fun Theory

Hand Hygiene at Point of Care

Infection Control Ethics

Pandemic Purple Paper

 

WEBBER TELECLASSES

February 25th
Influenza in the Hospital - Who Gets it From Whom

March 4th
An Introduction To Infection Prevention for the Novice Preventionist

March 11th
MRSA Prevention Basics

To view the 2010 scheduleclick here.



SAVE THE DATE:

CSA - Practical Applications in Infection Control During Construction & Renovation of Healthcare Facilities
March 4-5, 2010
Dundas, ON (CSICN)
Information...

Fifth Decennial Int'nl Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections (SHEA)
March 18-22, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia
Information...

PIDAC Environmental Cleaning BP Videoconference and Webcast
March 24th, 2010 - 1-3PM
Click on the site to register:
HHS Hamilton General
HHS Henderson
HHS MUMC
CSICN
Webcast

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...

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands
May 5h, 2010
2nd Annual Global Hand Hygiene Day
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...

 

 Web Resource

The RICNs are pleased to offer you a new on-line resource which will link you to concise, easy to read infection prevention and control information on specific infectious diseases and conditions. The Infection Prevention and Control Pocket Guide for Acute Care Settings is now available on-line. The content of this guide is based on the most current best practice guidelines. To access this resource, click here.
New Bloodborne Pathogen Guidelines

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has released new guidelines regarding the management of healthcare providers who are infected with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus. The new guidelines call for each pathogen to be handled differently in light of advances in clinical knowledge and the evolution of the science supporting infection prevention measures. To read more about these new guidelines, click here.
Fighting Germs Using The Fun Theory

One of the most common ways that illnesses such as flu are spread is through the germs on our hands. Hand sanitization is therefore a simple way to help prevent transmission of illness. Universities and restaurants in our area have installed hand sanitizers to help encourage hand cleaning, but few people actually use them. As a result, illnesses can rapidly spread across university campuses. We decided to apply the Fun Theory to this problem by testing whether we could get more people to sanitize their hands by making it fun. We modified a hand sanitizer so it would make an amusing sound effect each time it was used. We ran two tests in a university dining hall using the regular sanitizer on the first night, and the sanitizer modified with sound effects on the second. The results were astounding: when the sound effects were used, seven times as many students used the sanitizer to clean their hands as compared to the previous test! Clearly, making something fun can modify people’s behavior for the better and, in this case, keep us healthy as well! (Submitted to www.thefuntheory.com by Steven Blumenfeld)
Hand Hygiene at Point of Care

Hand hygiene compliance improves when alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is provided at the point-of-care (POC). However, a recent study out of eastern Ontario indicates that, while ABHR is available in most healthcare settings, dispensers are not necessarily being provided at the POC. Are hand hygiene products available at the POC in your organization? To request a copy of this article, click here. (Can J Infect Control. 2009 Fall;24(3):153-7)
Infection Control Ethics 

Have you ever asked yourself, or had someone else ask you:
  • To what extent do healthcare workers have a duty to put themselves at risk of serious adverse outcomes through treating patients with potentially transmissible infections?
  • How do we choose priorities in infection control, taking account of fairness and cost-effectiveness?
  • To what extent should future, potentially very serious, problems (such as pandemic influenza) be prioritized alongside existing problems?
  • Does the causal relationship between healthcare institutions and healthcare associated infections (HAIs) impose a moral responsibility on hospitals to prioritize the prevention and treatment of HAIs above diseases for which there is no causal relationship associated to the hospital, or to compensate patients for preventable HAIs?
If you find any of these questions challenging or intriguing, you may want to read this article discussing ethical frameworks for infection control. Click here.  (Journal of Hospital Infection (November 2009), 73, 232-238)
Pandemic Purple Paper

The Purple Paper is a weekly summary of peer-reviewed HINI literature published by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases. The Purple Paper is currently in the midst of a debrief series. To read the latest issues of the Purple Paper, click on the issue: Issue 10; Issue 11. For previous issues, click here.
You are receiving this email as a recipient of "CSICN e-focus Newsletter", the official newsletter of the Central South Infection Control Network. You responded to our invitation to receive "e-focus," designed to bring you the latest IPAC information and best practices.

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