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Biomedical subjects

Maryanne McGuckin

Publications and source records attributed to Maryanne McGuckin.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effect of random voice hand hygiene messages delivered by medical, nursing, and infection control staff on hand hygiene compliance in intensive care.

Hand hygiene (HH) compliance in the intensive care unit has been studied extensively, with short-term, nonsustained compliance often because of lack of ongoing reinforcement. HH messages delivered by health care workers responsible for overseeing staff in the intensive care unit provided continuous reinforcement of HH. Compliance measured through product usage and reported as HH/bed-days increased by 60% for soap and sanitizer combined and 25% for sanitizer usage (P < 001).

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2005

A descriptive review of malpractice claims for health care-acquired infections in Philadelphia.

BACKGROUND: Philadelphia's rate of malpractice filings per population is just over double the national median. Plaintiffs prevail in 44% of verdicts in Philadelphia compared with 20% for all US jury verdicts, with 24% of awarded verdicts in excess of $1 million. OBJECTIVE: To determine patient and procedure demographic data for malpractice claims involving health care-acquired infections (HAIs) in Philadelphia. METHODS: Risk managers representing 60 acute care hospitals, members of Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and a random sample of 560 lawyers representing plaintiff and defense cases obtained from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas database (1996-2002) were surveyed. The survey included the following: number of HAI cases by specialty, body site, isolate, and outcome. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 25% (n = 154 cases). The highest numbers of cases were in the specialties of orthopedics (69), general surgery (20), and cardiothoracic (20). Sites infected most often were as follows: knees (26), back (26), sternum (18), and harvest site (10). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was responsible for 45 of cases, S epidermidis for 27, methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) for 14, and Pseudomonas for 16. Twenty-seven of the cases were withdrawn, 27 settled, 11 pending, 9 plaintiff verdict, and 5 defense verdict. CONCLUSIONS: Although 72% of HAI malpractice cases in Philadelphia were either withdrawn or settled, when brought to trial, the plaintiff was more likely to succeed with a verdict. Our findings also suggest that the most frequent type of infection (class I-surgical site) and isolate (MRSA) are more likely to be seen as preventable HAIs because of National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance data showing lower infection rates for this class of surgery and therefore seen as easier for the plaintiff to show that the defendant failed to adhere to the standard of care for infection control.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of a patient education model for increasing hand hygiene compliance in an inpatient rehabilitation unit.

BACKGROUND: Transmission of microorganisms from the hands of health care workers is the main cause of health care-acquired infections. Recent studies on bacterial contamination of hands by medical care specialty found the highest bacterial contamination on the hands of health care workers from rehabilitation units. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of a patient education model on hand hygiene (HH) compliance in a rehabilitation unit. METHODS: A 6-week pre- and post-intervention study with a 3-month follow-up using a patient education model was conducted in a 24-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit located in an acute care hospital. Thirty-five patients were enrolled in the intervention phase of the study after agreeing to ask all health care workers who had direct contact with them, "Did you wash/sanitize your hands?" Compliance with the program was measured through soap/sanitizer usage per resident-day before, during, and after the intervention. RESULTS: Usage increased from 5 HH per resident-day during the preintervention to 9.7 HH per resident-day during the intervention (P <.001), 6.7 HH per resident-day postintervention (6 weeks) (P <.001), and 7.0 HH per resident-day at 3 months (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patient education increased HH compliance in an inpatient rehabilitation unit by 94% during the 6-week intervention, 34% during the 6 week post intervention, and 40% at 3-month follow-up. This program empowers patients with responsibility for their own care and provides ongoing HH education.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Management of health-care--associated infections in the oncology patient.

Each year, 2.4 million patients in the United States develop health-care--associated infections (HAIs), requiring treatment at an annual cost of approximately $4.5 billion. HAI is the primary cause of death in approximately 30,000 patients and contributes to the death of 70,000 annually. Oncology patients are more susceptible than other patients to HAIs due to compromised immune systems, surgery (drains), invasive technology (catheters), and environmental factors. This paper will review each of these risk factors and discuss preventive steps such as a predictive index, antibiotic therapy, and infection control practices.

Catheterization↗
PubMed2002

Validation of venous leg ulcer guidelines in the United States and United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Venous leg ulcers account for 85% of all lower-extremity ulcers, with treatment costs of 3 billion dollars and loss of 2 million workdays per year. The purpose of this study was to validate the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of multidisciplinary guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of venous leg ulcers. METHODS: Eighty (40 retrospective, 40 prospective) patients from the United States and United Kingdom were enrolled. RESULTS: United States patients were 6.5 times and United Kingdom 2 times more likely to heal if a guideline was followed (P <0.001). A significant decrease was noted in healing time for both the United States and United Kingdom (P <0.01), and the median cost decreased significantly when the guideline was followed (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a guideline for diagnosis and treatment of venous leg ulcers resulted in improvement in diagnosis, decrease in healing time, and an increase in healing rates resulting in lower costs.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

The effect of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary schools.

Handwashing is one of the most important factors in controlling the spread of micro-organisms and in preventing the development of infections. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary grades. Two hundred ninety students from 5 independent schools were enrolled in the study. Each test classroom had a control classroom, and only the test classroom received the intervention (education program and hand sanitizer). Absenteeism data were collected for 3 months. The number of absences was 50.6% lower in the test group (P <.001). The data strongly suggest that a hand hygiene program that combines education and use of a hand sanitizer in the classroom can lower absenteeism and be cost-effective.

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The clinical relevance of microbiology in acute and chronic wounds.

PURPOSE: To improve clinical practice and the quality of patient care by providing a learning opportunity that enhances the participant's understanding of how wound microbiology affects healing. TARGET AUDIENCE: This CME/CE activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in interpreting the role of microorganisms in wound healing. OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the microbiology of acute and chronic wounds, risk factors for infection, and advantages and disadvantages of wound culturing. 2. Identify methods of debridement and wounds for which they are appropriate. 3. Identify systemic antibiotic treatment options for acute and chronic wound infections.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Consumer attitudes about health care-acquired infections and hand hygiene.

Mandatory reporting and disclosure of health care-acquired infections have resulted in controversy over the perceived notion that consumers will not understand how to interpret data and that such information may negatively influence utilization of hospitals. The objective was to determine consumers' attitudes about health care-acquired infections, hand hygiene practices, and patient empowerment. A telephone survey based on a random digit dialing sample of all households in the United States was conducted. Consumers were asked about choosing a hospital, hand hygiene practices, and health care-acquired infections. Some 94% of respondents rated environmental cleanliness as very important. Hospital infection rates would influence decision making for 93% of consumers. Four in 5 consumers said they would ask their health care worker to wash and sanitize his or her hands. Our findings strongly suggest that (1) consumers will use infection data in selecting and/or leaving a hospital system and (2) consumers are ready to be empowered with information to ensure a positive outcome.

Cross Infection↗