Andy Jacobsohn/AP

Ebola raises concerns over infection controls

The track record of the nation's hospitals in controlling other infections suggests a lot of them aren't prepared


The track record of the nation's hospitals in controlling other infections suggests a lot of them aren't prepared for Ebola, according to an article on the USA Today website.

Lapses in infection control procedures, including isolating contagious patients and cleaning contaminated equipment consistently rank among common hospital problems.

About one in every 25 patients get an infection while being treated in a U.S. hospital, which translates to more than 700,000 hospital-associated illnesses each year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Most infections are transmitted via contaminated equipment, rooms or caregivers — problems that would pose grave threats in treating Ebola, the article said.

Many violations involve healthcare workers failing to disinfect their hands or use protective gear properly. Surveyors have also observed personnel tracking blood across floors, wiping down equipment with dirty rags, using blood-testing equipment on successive patients without proper disinfection and failing to change "high-touch" room curtains for more than a year, the article said.

Read the article.

 

 



October 21, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Assisted Living Facility Violated Safety Standards: OSHA

Fire at Gabriel House killed 10 residents died and injured and displaced dozens of others.


McCarthy Completes Construction of Citizens Health Hospital in Kansas

The facility is among the nation’s largest hospitals funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Critical Access Hospital program.


California Tower at UC Davis Health Topped Out

When completed in 2030, the California Tower will include a 14-story hospital facility and a five-story pavilion.


What 'Light' Daily Cleaning of Patient Rooms Misses

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they were wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Sprinkler Compliance: Navigating Code Mandates, Renovation Triggers and Patient Safety

As CMS deadlines approach and renovation projects accelerate, healthcare facility managers must understand how NFPA 101, state fire codes and sprinkler design strategies intersect.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.