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At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Control of infection: a survey of general medical practices.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were (1) to assess current infection control practice within general medical practices and establish a base line; (2) to identify potential infection control problems; (3) to assess the need for local infection control guidelines or standards related to general medical practice; (4) to assess the need for educational provision. METHODS: A survey was carried out, using questionnaire and structured interviews, of all general practices (92) within a Health Board area with a patient population of 561,300. RESULTS: Forty two (46 per cent) practices participated, serving 67 per cent of the patient population. Only three (7 per cent) practices had written infection control policies and only six (14 per cent) provided training on the subject. Thirty (71 per cent) practices had autoclaves; however, performance monitoring was poor. The majority of high-risk instruments were adequately decontaminated; of the medium-risk instruments, the auriscope speculum was the item most frequently inadequately treated [36 practices (88 per cent)]. Deficiencies were identified in treatment of blood spillage, and protective clothing provision was variable. The majority, 40 (95 per cent) practices, had systems to deal with clinical waste; however, only two (5 per cent) reported use of BS7320 sharps containers on domiciliary visits. Despite the recognized dangers, 23 (55 per cent) practices resheathed needles and only six (14 per cent) had first aid guidance for needlestick injuries. Only eight (19 per cent) practices knew and recorded staff immunity to hepatitis B following vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Some deficiencies in infection control practice were identified and the need for policy guidance and staff training was highlighted.

Family Practice↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Eliminating mercury use in hospital laboratories: a step toward zero discharge.

In 1996, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District initiated a Zero Discharge Project to work toward the goal of zero discharge of persistent toxic substances from its wastewater treatment plant. This multifaceted project focuses on mercury, lead, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, and hexachlorbenzene. Here, the author describes a collaboration with local hospitals to eliminate the use of mercury-containing fixatives by histopathology laboratories. Three primary roadblocks to change were identified: (a) technicians' belief that pathologists would be resistant to change; (b) lack of time to research alternatives; (c) lack of awareness of the hospital's role in polluting the environment.

Fixatives↗
PubMed2005

Declassification of radioactive liquid wastes generated in radio immune assay [corrected] (RIA) laboratories.

Radioactive liquid wastes of low-medium activity level are generated in radio immune assay (RIA) laboratories, which are also potentially infectious because of the pathogens from patient blood. The most common way of managing these wastes consists of a temporal storage, for partial radioactivity decay, followed by management by an authorised company. The object of this work is to study the viability of treating radioactive liquid wastes coming from RIA using membrane techniques in order to reduce their volume, which would mean an improvement from the radiological point of view and a decrease in management costs. This paper describes the results of some experiments carried out with RIA real wastes, by means of processes such as ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. It has been proved that waste volume can be significantly reduced, obtaining a treated liquid that is free of pathogens and organic matter and with an activity level around the environmental background.

Laboratories, Hospital↗
PubMed2005

Inhalation dose due to presence of 131I in air above septic tank system of an endocrinology hospital.

We present here measurements of the 131I concentration for both: gaseous and aerosol fraction of 131I in the air above the septic tank containing wastes from medical application of this isotope. Aerosols were collected using air filters, whereas gaseous forms of iodine were trapped in KI impregnated charcoal double layer cartridge. Besides an active method (pumping of the air through system of filters) an attempt for using a passive method (charcoal traps) for monitoring of radio-iodine is described. For better characterisation of a site the external kerma was determined by means of G-M and TLD techniques as well as the activity kept in the septic tank was measured by gamma spectrometry. Results show that the activity of the aerosol fraction can be neglected compared to that of the gaseous fraction. He measured activity of air is low, on the level of 1 Bq m(-3), even during simulated failure of the ventilation system. Estimated inhalation dose for the serviceman of septic tanks is low ( approximately 10%) compared with external dose obtained by such person due to gamma radiation from the tank (on the level approximately 500 nSv h(-1)). Therefore, the concept of passive monitoring of the iodine in air was abandoned. Also estimated is the efficiency of 131I reduction by a charcoal filter of the ventilation system and 131I input to the environment by the ventilation chimney.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2001

Know your rights.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Employee Grievances↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological explanations and interventions for indifference to greening hospitals.

Attention has increasingly been given to "greening" the environment, that is, to engaging in environmentally responsible behavior. Applied to hospitals, greening is collective interdisciplinary organizational behavior that reduces environmental hazards and overconsumption. An environmental crisis in hospitals is described. A number of individual and group psychological phenomena are detailed to explain the current absence of widespread greening in hospitals. Social and environmental psychology concepts for behavior change are combined to provide a model consisting of hospital administration and staff interventions to green this setting. Successful examples of these interventions are provided.

Conflict, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Potential for radioactive patient excreta in hospital trash and medical waste.

Radioactive excreta from nuclear medicine patients can enter solid waste as common trash and medical biohazardous waste. Many landfills and transfer stations now survey these waste streams with scintillation detectors which may result in rejection of a hospital's waste. Our survey indicated that on the average either or both of Boston University Medical Center Hospital's waste streams can contain detectable radioactive excreta on a weekly basis. To avoid potential problems, radiation detectors were installed in areas where housekeepers carting trash and medical waste must pass through to ensure no radioactivity leaves the institution.

Housekeeping, Hospital↗
PubMed1997

Healthful radiation.

This title of this article sounds paradoxical to most people because the general public is not fully aware of the many benefits radiation has brought to people's healthcare. Radiation has provided the most effective means of noninvasive diagnosis of many diseases, thus reducing the need for exploratory surgery, at significantly reduced risks. Furthermore, radiotherapy has been effective in treating many diseases without surgical removal of the diseased part. The breast is one excellent example of the benefits of radiation in both diagnosis and treatment with preservation. Yet the public still regards radiation as mysterious and dangerous, while trained experts regard it as beneficial with manageable risks. This article suggests ways of presenting this material to the public in a manner that is interesting and informative.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed2001

Transport and storage of infusion supplies and blood products.

Home care nurses face many challenges in transporting and storing medications and blood products in their vehicles and in patients' homes. Unlike climate-controlled institutions, products subject to the cold of winter and the heat of summer can easily be damaged, which can be harmful to the patient. Additionally, several regulations and protocols demand that products be cared for in a certain manner, stored in the proper container, and labeled appropriately. The following information presents the current practices in storing and transporting these products safely. It can be used as a guide for policy and procedure development and a review for clinicians in assuring safe handling of these products from office to home to lab.

Blood Preservation↗