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Connecticut hospital finds ways to reduce infections

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, March 25, 2008

Hospital-acquired infections are stirring up buzz around healthcare organizations and hospitals are aggressively seeking ways to reduce patient infection rates within their organizations. A team of 30 acute-care and long-term care hospitals in Connecticut are teaming up to battle multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs), which include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), by sharing best practices through a listserv, a protected Web site, and conference calls.

Among the 30 hospitals participating in the battle against MDROs--which can easily be spread to patients and healthcare staff from overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, non-compliance with hand-hygiene, and non-disinfection of shared equipment--is Stamford Hospital. The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® recipient in 2005 is currently screening patients entering the intensive care unit--or other areas at-risk for MDROs--with a new system called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR only takes two hours to show if a patient is affected with MDROs, while other screening methods can take up to 48 hours.

Source: Nurse.com  

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