Product Description
It’s a sobering fact: Millions of patients in health care organizations around the world develop infections during their stay. Each year, a significant number of them die because of those health care–acquired infections (HAIs). In addition to the human cost, there are financial repercussions: In the United States, treating patients who acquire HAIs costs an estimated $9.8 billion annually.
An organization’s physical environment is inextricably linked to its ability to prevent and control infection. A well-designed, thoughtfully managed environment is the foundation upon which most infection control activities are built. Every health care setting—not just hospitals—faces the challenge of keeping patients and staff free of infection, including HAIs. Those challenges differ by setting. Behavioral health care settings, for example, will not need to worry about negative-pressure isolation rooms, but they may need to address higher numbers of patients with infections such as tuberculosis or hepatitis C. Home care organizations will handle infection control differently because their staff members are providing care in patients’ homes, where the organization has little control over the environment.
Infection Prevention and Control Issues in the Environment of Care, Revised Third Edition, is designed to help infection preventionists, other infection control practitioners, and physical environment professionals collaborate on infection control issues to develop an infection control program that will protect patients, staff, and visitors from the threat of infection. This edition explores various infection control risks, in the United States and abroad, that can be minimized or eliminated through proper management of the physical environment. It has been completely revised with current domestic and international standards, as well as new case studies and tools, and reflects the 2012 Life Safety Code.
Key Topics:
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The connection between infection control and the physical environment
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Protecting utility systems from IC risks, including air-handling, ventilation and water distribution systems
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The role of leadership in supporting collaboration between clinicians and environment of care professionals to make infection control an organizationwide effort
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Staff issues associated with infection control in the environment, including hand hygiene and sharps management
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Proper cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and maintenance of medical and surgical equipment and other items
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Infection control needs in environmental services and laundry operations, including safely managing medical waste
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Special IC considerations to address before, during, and after construction
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Emergency management issues related to infections, including infectious disease outbreaks
Key Features:
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Strategies for using performance improvement and measurement to track, share, and apply data on infection control
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General and specific guidelines and strategies to organize, improve and benchmark your IC efforts
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Case studies that offer examples of plans or projects that have proven effective in a range of health care facilities
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Online resources and websites that will help you further examine key issues
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Examples of useful tools, pros and cons of various infection control approaches
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Tracer scenarios
Standards: Infection Prevention and Control (IC), Environment of Care (EC), Emergency Management (EM); international standards for Prevention and Control of Infections (PCI), Facility Management and Safety (FMS)
Setting: All settings
Key Audience: Infection preventionists, infection prevention and control program leaders, facility managers, environment of care staff, housekeeping