Monthly Archives: March 2014

Ask Questions and Everyone takes a part in preventing infections

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During a CDC press conference on March 26th, 2014

Dr. Michael Bell, MD, Deputy Director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion: To Patients and their families - during medical care - Ask Questions.

Bring a friend or family member and designate them to be the one to ask all the questions.

Politely ask or inquire with any clinician or visitor to take a moment for hand-washing prior to assessing the patient and upon entering the room,

If a Urinary indwelling catheter is in place: Ask how long it will be needed and on the second day ask if it can be discontinued.

Testing: Have any tests been performed to determine the correct antibiotic is being utilized to treat the named and known infection.

Be proactive in your healthcare and the healthcare of your loved ones.

Patients please become involved and prevent infections by washing your hands and often. Everyone is part of preventing infections while delivering and receiving care.

Here’s to everyone’s good health!

Rebiotix, Inc. - Opportunity to participate in treatment cost study from C. diff. patients

Rebiotix Inc., one of the C Diff Foundation’s corporate partners, and is requesting our members to send copies of their medical bills (pharmacy, clinic and hospital bills) for treatment related to recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (more than two episodes of C. diff.).
Please note on the bill which number episode of C. diff this treatment is for, such as “#3, #4), etc.
If you are interested in helping Rebiotix understand the cost of treating this infectious disease, please send copies of your medical bills to Rebiotix at:
Costs
Rebiotix, Inc
2660 Patton Road
Roseville, MN 55113
Please remove the following identifying information: your name, street address (please leave city and state visible), phone number(s), medical record number, insurance carrier name and policy number, date of birth (please leave the year) and any other information you would like to keep private.
Rebiotix will not use this information to contact you and your information will not be shared outside of Rebiotix; your confidentiality will be maintained.
Visit Rebiotix on the Web at: www.rebiotix.com

American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Information

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) provides information to both physicians, and patients regarding fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).

Visit the AGA FMT website: http://fmt.gastro.org for more detailed information.

Over prescribing of antibiotics in pediatric patients

* In The News *

An estimated 17,000 children aged 1 through 17 years get C. difficile infections every year, according to preliminary data from the Center of Disease Control and Infection. The Pediatrics study found that there was no difference in the incidence of C. difficile infection among boys and girls, and that the highest numbers were seen in white children and those between the ages of 12 and 23 months.

Clostridium difficile is a spore forming bacteria which can be part of the normal intestinal flora in as many as 50% of children under age two, and less frequently in individuals over two years of age. C. difficile (C. diff.) is the major cause of pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic associated diarrhea.

Many parents continue to insist on physicians prescribing an antibiotic, i.e., amoxicillin or zithromax, each time their child has a sore throat, bronchitis, or mild ear infection which are usually caused by a virus and not bacteria. Antibiotics are not effective treating viruses.

A new CDC study published earlier last week in the Journal Pediatrics found that 71 percent of C. difficile infections that occurred in children were not associated with a hospital stay and usually followed a course of antibiotics prescribed by a pediatrician. Previous research suggests that at least half of antibiotics prescribed to children are for respiratory infections, most of which don’t require antibiotics.

The CDC Director, Dr. Tom Frieden stated, “When antibiotics are prescribed incorrectly, our children are needlessly put at risk for health problems including C. difficile infection and dangerous antibiotic resistant infections.” “Improved antibiotic prescribing is critical to protect the health of our nation’s children,”

Physicians are more cautious about prescribing antibiotics, and parents need to become more understanding that antibiotics are not recommended for viruses and the symptoms noted. However; if the symptoms are not relieved with over-the-counter medications, or fever persists, the Physician should be notified/seen and symptoms assessed. Antibiotics should only be considered and prescribed by physicians for symptoms that do not resolve on their own or linger past a week or two.

 

 

Hand Washing aka Hand Hygiene While On a Journey

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During a recent journey along the east coast, in the USA, a few of the Foundation members had the opportunity to visit an array of public restrooms along the way.

As we are aware, public restrooms can be a challenge and a real eye-opening experience. Many of the facilities fell short in monitoring their supplies along with the monitoring of over-all cleanliness of their restroom.

During the road trip, along various interstates, back roads, and local towns, we began to assess the establishment’s public facilities based on the following criteria:

* Cleanliness.

* Supplies offered.

* Electronic hand drying devices vs traditional supplies.

* Cleaning/Room monitoring log.

As the journey continued the restroom grading system became the topic of conversation discussing the vast ways establishments can maintain a safe, clean, and friendly environment for their visitors. There were also discussions on how a traveler can be prepared by carrying supplies to ensure their own safety when utilizing public facilities.

The following is a list of a few supplies easily kept in a small bag during travel times:

* A small container of liquid soap (preferably one without the anti-bacterial ingredients).

* A few paper towels dampened with bleach or pack a EPA Registered cleaning product to clean the commode and high-touch areas. It is good safety practice to store the paper towels in a sealed plastic container. Other cleaning (Germicidal/Disinfectant) product wipes should remain in their original container or sealed separately in a plastic container. Never mix two cleaning wipes/products together or store in the same container.

* Sheets of T.P. or a small roll.

* Sheets of dry paper towels to turn off water faucets and dry hands.

* Attempt to open the restroom door with an elbow or use a dry paper towel to pull the door handle open in order to keep hands clean and not re-introduce germs onto the hands.

Was there a favorite rest stop/establishment along the way? Yes.

McDonalds restrooms were found to be acceptable and met the needs of the travelers. Their establishments focus on cleanliness, offered an adequate supply of soap with automated towel dispenser or hand dryers, and facility monitoring logs in place. Their organization also displayed signs over the sinks promoting hand hygiene, a public safety announcement for both staff, and visitors.

The public restrooms at rest-stops along I-95 were impressive with their focus on cleanliness, adequately filled soap containers, and hand dryers available in each restroom with the elimination of a main door to enter/exit the facility. Once the hands are washed/dried the reintroduction to harmful germs upon exiting the public area from a door handle is eliminated.

There were a number of unacceptable facilities located in local discount stores, some food stores, food chain eateries, and quick-mart stations. Their sinks were not automated with motion sensors and many with two handles, empty paper towel dispensers and automatic hand drying equipment unavailable. Many restrooms were without cleaning monitoring logs promoting safety and cleanliness to the staff (food handlers), and visitors alike.

We appreciate the availability and use of public restrooms during long commutes, when on vacations, and time away from home. Most establishments offer adequate supplies to eliminate, and prevent the spread of harmful germs, however; it is always best to be prepared. The next time a journey is planned, do not forget to pack the supplies needed for a public restroom visit that will keep you and your family safe.

The journey and hand-washing experiences become part of the adventure. Take the opportunity to report negative experiences to the management and help change a negative into a positive for the next person visiting.

Remember to take that twenty second hand-washing break before exiting a restroom, before/after eating, before/after entering a patient’s room, after changing diapers, before/after handling food, and during the day. Let’s stop giving germs a free ride.

Here’s to everyone’s good health!

Below you will find links available for Public Restroom locators offered by Charmin, one app for an iPhone, and an app for an Android Phone.

http://www.charmin.com/find-public-restrooms.aspx?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Charmin_Search_Desktop_Lifestyle_SoS+App&utm_term=restroom%20app&utm_content=SvExifYv_restroom%20app_p_2095916800&sctp=ppc&scvn=bing&scsrc=bing_search&sckw=na

* App For iPhone

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/restroom-bathroom-toilet-finder/id311896604?mt=8

* App For Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bto.toilet

C. difficile Prevention

 

 

 

Prevention:

  • Hand-washing. Health care workers, visitors, and patients all should practice good hand hygiene (aka hand-washing) before and after care, before and after entering the patient’s room, before and after eating, before exiting a restroom, before and after treatments, after changing diapers, before and after handling food, after visiting shopping centers and visiting the gym. In the event of a C. diff. outbreak, using soap and warm water is proven effective in hand washing as studies have proven alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective destroying C. diff. spores.
  • Contact precautions. People who are hospitalized with C. diff. have a private room or share a room with someone who has the same illness. Hospital staff and visitors follow the infection control guidelines and wear disposable gloves and gowns while in the room, and removed before leaving the patient’s room.
  • Environmental cleaning. All high-touch non-porous surfaces should be carefully disinfected with a product that contains chlorine bleach and/or a product that has been EPA registered and has the C. diff. kill. The Clostridium difficile spores can survive routine cleaning products that don’t contain bleach.
  • * * * * * * Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. This matter can not be stressed enough worldwide. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention have issued an updated report in March 2014 regarding the use of Antibiotics and providing Physicians pertinent information with the limiting usage of Antibiotics for viruses. The reports have found that sometimes Antibiotics are prescribed to treat viral illnesses that aren’t helped by these drugs, and can lead to Antibiotic resistance and super-bugs. When symptoms linger/worsen and do not improve - please contact the Physician to report. If an Antibiotic is needed to treat the symptoms, the Physician/Healthcare professional will assess the symptoms and prescribe as indicated.