TIPS: Teaching Infection Prevention at Stockley IT’S NOT INFECTION CONTROL- IT’S INFECTION PREVENTION With the focus changing from control of infections toward prevention of infections, ‘Infection Control’ has been renamed to be ‘Infection Prevention’. Stockley Center has an active, organization-wide Infection Prevention Program. The purpose of this program is to monitor infections and infection prevention practices and promote a safe and healthy environment for all staff and all individuals who reside at the center. Our Infection Prevention Team consists of two nurses, Kelly Ellingsworth, R.N. and Donna Anderson, R. N., that perform the necessary functions of the program and serve as program coordinators; Willa Jordan, Director of Nursing and Dr. Judy Bailey, who serve as co-chairs of the Infection Prevention Committee; Dr. Thomas Kelly, Medical Director, who provides medical consultation to the Infection Prevention program coordinators; Laboratory Technician, Grace Norcisa, who completes laboratory testing and develops graphs for the committee; and the Infection Prevention Committee team members who provide area expertise to the program. They are Mary Brennan, QMRP; Charles Bryant, Training/ Professional Development; Shane Zack, Pharmacist; Mary Armond, Housekeeping Supervisor; Jim Ale, Laundry Services Supervisor; Karen Widen, Work Services; Brian Andrews, Active Treatment Supervisor; Tammy Perdue, Canteen Supervisor; Janet Showell, Dietary Services. Most importantly, every staff member of Stockley Center that provides service or care to staff and individuals at Stockley Center plays a vital role in infection prevention. Our overall goal is to provide safe care and services following best practice policies to prevent infections from occurring. Principal functions of infection prevention include: collecting and analyzing of infection data; developing and reviewing infection prevention policies and procedures; intervening directly whenever needed to prevent infection; educating and training team members on interventions to reduce infection risks; implementing changes as mandated by regulatory and licensing agencies; and assisting the organization in providing highquality services. Infection Prevention team members conduct environmental rounds each month to observe for cleanliness and safety throughout the organization. Whenever issues are identified they are corrected immediately or an action plan of correction is developed and sent to Infection Prevention program coordinators. As we move forward and into the new Mary Ann Coverdale facility we plan to involve even more staff and individuals in this process. Should you have an infection prevention question or concern please ask one of the committee members to bring it to the Infection Prevention Committee or you may contact the Infection Prevention Program by calling extension 33230 or phone number 933-3230. Kelly Ellingsworth, R.N. Donna Anderson, R.N. Future topics Conjunctivitis April ‘09 Hand Hygiene April ‘09 Housekeeping June ‘09 Food Handling June ‘09 Personal Protective Equipment Aug ‘09 Laundry Handling Aug ‘09 Your Idea or Story ? When to wash hands: • Before and after your shift. • After cleaning. • Upon arrival and after coming inside from outdoor activities. • Before and after preparing and eating food. • Before and after diapering or toileting or providing personal care. • After contact with body fluids. • After touching animals or their equipment. • Are there other important times? Let us know... E Developmental Disabilities Services Edited by Thomas Kelly, MD Volume 1, Issue 1 February 2009 What every health care worker should know about proper urine collection Why is it Important to Study Urine? The purposes of performing a urinalysis are (1) to aid in the diagnosis of disease, (2) to screen for symptomatic, congenital or heredity diseases, (3) to monitor disease progression, and (4) to monitor therapy effectiveness or complications. To obtain accurate urinalysis results, urine specimen’s integrity must be maintained at all times. If the urine specimen submitted for testing is inappropriate or if the specimen has changed because of improper collection or storage conditions, the testing will produce results that do not reflect the clients’ condition. Therefore, written criteria for urine specimen types, proper collection, correct specimen labeling, and handling time must be followed. Urine is a fluid biopsy of the kidney and provides a “fountain” of information. The kidney is the only organ with such a noninvasive means by which to directly evaluate its status. In addition, because urine is an ultra filtrate of the plasma, it can be used to evaluate and monitor body homeostasis and many metabolic disease processes. Urine Collection Before the collection of the urine specimen, always use the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Following the proper cleansing procedure, the private areas of the male or female external urinary tract have to be thoroughly cleansed, rinsed and dried, . To prevent contamination of the specimen and container, the interior of the specimen container must not come in contact with the client’s hand, the health care worker or perineal area. When done properly, the technique eliminates contamination, and provides an excellent specimen for routine urinalysis and urine culture. Catheterized Urine Specimen A catheterized urine specimen is obtained following catheterization of the client, that is, insertion of a sterile catheter through the urethra into the bladder. Urine flows directly from the bladder through the catheter, and the urine output is transferred into a sterile specimen container for processing. Urinary Tract Infections Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) occur mostly when urinary catheters are in place. Also, UTIs are most common in people that have diabetes, people with sickle cell disease, and people with anatomical malformations of the urinary tract. In conclusion, keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infections and illness. The lack of proper hand washing remains the number one source of infections. Hand washing is a simple habit that can help keep you and your family healthy. Learn the benefits of good hand hygiene, when to wash your hands, and how to clean them properly. Hand hygiene saves lives. Grace Norcisa, Medical Laboratory Technician III “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” Who is this person? Answer in the next edition... TIPS: Teaching Infection Prevention at Stockley Page 2