Health Care-Associated Infections are here to stay, and, as consumers, who might (hopefully not) at some time, be patients, you should beware!!! Being informed will help to give you some added protection.
Every hospital should have a system wide infection control program.
The hospital should, have in place, mechanisms/techniques/processes to ensure that infections are identified, to identify who is at risk, as well as how the particular infection spreads (bacteria/virus)
Do you as a consumer need to be afraid? Indeed you certainly do... Beware !! Become informed...
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A friend, who had surgery, was upset as his doctor told him he wanted him to be discharged. Why was he upset? For starters, he still had an incision that needed to have dressings changed. The patient was concerned about this and asked the doctor why he could not stay in the hospital. Why? Why?
You came here to get well, not sick," stated the doctor. As harsh as that sounds, it is true and unfortunate. The rate of hospital acquired infections is rising.
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As we watch the nurses, we can notice that many are not washing their hands in between providing care for patients. We watch gloves being worn on many staff hands, but why? For their protection, or the patient's protection. Actually, gloves can be worn for both, however, when one wears gloves, while providing patient care to one patient, then leaves the room, enters another patient room, with the same gloves on,,,, well, this is a NO NO> end of story.
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Ofcourse, then we observed one nurse with a tissue, blowing her nose, coughing, then she threw the tissue in the garbage can. Oh wait ! !.. The next time, she put the tissue in her pocket. Then she proceeded to walk into a patient room. And, did she wash her hands? NO.........................So, were the patients in that room exposed to whatever naughty germs might be on her hands? YES..........Did she touch items in the room? YES.............Was the patient in danger of acquiring an infection? YES.......................
Simple as it is.... washing hands is so very important in the hospital setting. Ofcourse, in a doctor's office also important, as well as nursing homes and any other facility where patient care is delivered.
Oh yes,, did I forget.. there was a basin/soap/water, as well as antimicrobial soap dispenser within two feet of where this nurse was standing. Frightening, you better believe it.. Beware !!! Those bugs crawl fast.
And 'they' wonder why there are so many infections.
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The nursing staff entered the room, took the bedpan away from the patient, cleaned the patient and returned the bedpan (after cleaning it) to the cabinet. The nursing staff wore gloves. After cleaning the patient, she touched the following things in the room: bed linen, side rails, cabinet, door knobs, top of overbed table, call bell, faucets in bathroom, toilet flush handle.
All during this time, she wore gloves, contaminating everything she touched.
But, more than likely, she thought she was protecting herself.. Hmmm, I thought it was the patient we were protecting?
The patient was discharged, a new patient was admitted. Housekeeping did not wipe down all the above mentioned. Although, housekeeping did mop the floor. Therefore, the new patient was probably exposed to unnecessary germs.
And, yes, did I forget, the nursing staff still had the same gloves on while she threw the laundry in the hamper in the hallway, then she went to the nursing desk and picked up a pen. Interesting, huh? Everything that was touched probably had those nasty bugs adhered.......
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As we walked throughout the hospital we observed one person after another wearing gloves. I thought how interesting and did not understand. So, boldly, I asked a girl on the elevator. "Why are you wearing gloves?" She just looked at me with somewhat of a dazed look. She did not know what to respond to a total stranger, a visitor, asking her this question. Her answer, "I always do."
There she was, throughout her busy day, wearing gloves, going from patient to patient... instead of not wearing gloves and washing her hands inbetween patients. Perhaps, easier to wear gloves, for her, but not for the patient. The patient was at risk due to the nursing staff bringing germs from one patient to another.
I just don't get it??? Do these nursing staff personnel, as well as other hospital staff not realize that wearing gloves all day from patient to patient does not make sense. I would think they are afraid of 'catching' something... So, I am told by one staff.
What can be done to instill the importance of maintaining some type of infection control system working.
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And, how many times have I seen a nurse sneeze or cough into her hands and not wash them during direct patient care. Scarey, indeed....just ask me, and, I will tell you.
These are just a few examples of situations that happen every day at every healthcare facility. If you don't believe me, just watch closely and you, too, shall see. Even if you don't like what you see, you have seen it now.
(to be continued)
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