Critical Infection Rates Held to Zero at AMC

SARANAC LAKE - For the first half of 2009 Adirondack Medical Center has had zero cases of two critical hospital-acquired infections, and zero transmission of one pathogen (MRSA), which if contracted can lead to prolonged stays and serious health complications.

While zero cases of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), central-line blood stream infections in the ICU, and transmission of MRSA infections is commendable, it is the practices carried out by a broad range of staff at AMC that will continue to keep the number as low as possible.

"I have to applaud the staff on several levels - from caregivers to housekeeping - these results would not be possible without a team effort across several departments," said Mim Tracy, who is responsible for Infection Control at AMC.

As recently as 20 years ago, many health care providers viewed infections as an unavoidable risk that came with being in a hospital.  Rightfully so, that thinking began to change and health care workers took the position that certain, if not most, infections could be prevented.  This change in thinking has driven the research into evidence-based best practices to prevent hospital acquired infections.

The staff at AMC has adopted many of these best practices, and clearly the evidence generated in the first half of 2009 speaks for itself.

For example, simple steps such as elevating the head of the bed and good oral care have been significant factors in reducing the number of cases of VAP in the critical care units at AMC.  Ventilators help patients with breathing difficulties, and in critical care situations this can be a prolonged period of time thus raising the potential for acquiring an infection.

In a situation where a patient is in critical care and requires medication over an extended period of time, a central-line catheter is inserted into a large vessel that feeds into the heart.  This helps to ensure maximum benefit of the medications.  As part of the procedure for insertion of the central-line catheter, AMC caregivers adhere to best practices.  Many of the components needed are provided in a special kit designed to protect the patient from the risk of infection.  The kit includes a maximal barrier to be placed over the patient, sterile surgical garb that is worn by the provider inserting the line, and chlorhexadine to scrub the area prior to insertion of the line.  All of these measures greatly reduce the chances of a pathogen being transmitted from care giver to patient, or even from the patient to the site on their body where the central-line catheter is being inserted.

In 2008, AMC began active surveillance for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).  While staphylococcus aureus naturally occurs on some people's skin, if it gets under the skin through an opening it can, depending on a person's immune level, cause an infection.  A simple test can determine within two hours if a person is nasally colonized with MRSA, which if positive, this would result in the patient being placed on contact precautions.  The patient is generally placed in a private room, and both caregivers and visitors alike are required to wear gloves and gowns within the patient's room.  Preventing the spread of MRSA in a hospital environment is extremely important where there is a susceptible population such as surgical patients and those requiring critical care.

When it comes to preventing the spread of infection in a hospital setting, hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol sanitizer is a best practice for caregivers, patients and visitors alike.  It cannot be stressed enough that hand washing is the single, most important way to prevent infection. Unless hands have visible soil, alcohol sanitizer is the preferred method of hand hygiene, according to the CDC.  Environmental cleanliness is second on the list in preventing infections.  Everyone at AMC takes infection prevention very seriously.

As part of her infection control duties, Tracy will continue to monitor all areas of hospital acquired infections.  Zero cases is a great number, however she stresses it is the best practices used by all staff that will keep the infection rate to an absolute minimum.

Policies & Terms - Laboratory Test Collection Information - Sitemap

	AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission. Click here to view the Joint Commission Public Notice.
	AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.
	Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.