PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Infection Control Practitioners”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

The dental hygienist as a co-therapist in the endodontic practice.

This paper explores the potential contributions to patients, the practice, the endodontist, and the dental hygienist that may be realized by the employment of one or more dental hygienists to serve as endodontic co-therapists in the delivery of endodontic treatment. An endodontic co-therapist is an individual who participates with the endodontist in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of treatment much like the periodontal co-therapist relationship that exists between periodontists and dental hygienists. Dental hygienists are ideal individuals for this role because of their education in basic, clinical, and behavioral sciences. Suggestions are provided for which services could be delegated by the endodontist to the dental hygienist during each phase of care. Advantages of this contemporary approach to the delivery of endodontic treatment are also addressed.

Dental Hygienists↗
PubMed1989

Surveillance for quality assessment: I. Surveillance in infection control success reviewed.

This review of the use of surveillance by infection control practitioners (ICPs) in nosocomial infection control programs has identified key components that have led to and supported its continued application and success. These include: Surveillance targeting of events (diseases); Early development of standardized definitions; Wide acceptance of these criteria; Advocacy, leadership and education of methodology and; A high level of effectiveness in program practice.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed2005

Characteristics of infection control programs in U.S. Air Force dental clinics: a survey.

BACKGROUND: National organizations and regulatory agencies have issued a number of guidelines on proper infection control procedures in dentistry. The objective of the authors' research was to gather information about current infection control practices in U.S. Air Force (USAF) Dental Corps clinics for the purpose of updating previously issued guidelines and developing infection control training programs. METHODS: The authors mailed a 60-item self-administered survey to the commanders of all USAF dental clinics located in the United States and overseas (n=82). The survey used primarily fixed-response questions to gather information about aspects of the clinics' infection control programs. The authors obtained descriptive statistics of the returned data by means of a statistical software package. RESULTS: The results indicated a high degree of compliance with existing USAF dental infection control guidelines. All clinics had personnel assigned to manage their programs, had a written exposure control plan and took measures to improve dental unit water quality. Facilities used a number of approaches to achieve and monitor compliance and exhibited a considerable amount of variation in infection control procedures when specific guidelines did not exist. CONCLUSIONS: In general, USAF dental clinics reported high levels of compliance with current infection control policies and procedures. Recurrent training, continual oversight, a highly motivated staff and teamwork are essential for reaching and maintaining these levels. Clinical Implications. Although compliance with recommended infection control guidelines is challenging, the results of this survey indicate that compliance is achievable, even in large group practices.

Dental Clinics↗
PubMed1990

Mumps transmission in hospitals.

Although sporadic transmission of mumps within hospitals to patients and staff is well documented, outbreaks of mumps within hospitals have only rarely been reported. The widespread mumps outbreaks that occurred in Tennessee in 1986-1987 provided an opportunity to assess the extent of the problems caused by mumps in hospitals. Information was obtained from 146 (95%) of 154 infection control practitioners in the state. Infection control problems caused by mumps were reported from 17 (12%) of 146 hospitals. The 17 hospitals in which these incidents occurred were located in counties that accounted for 67% of the reported mumps cases statewide during this period. Although most cases of mumps in health care workers were community-acquired, six health care workers in three different hospitals developed mumps following nosocomial exposure. In two institutions, nine patients contracted mumps while hospitalized. Both were long-term-care facilities housing adolescents, who had substantial contact with a community where mumps outbreaks were ongoing. This study suggests that mumps poses a small but real risk to both patients and staff in hospitals, particularly in long-term-care facilities caring for adolescents and young adults. In communities where mumps activity is ongoing, hospitals should consider identifying potentially susceptible staff members at risk for infection and offering vaccine. Likewise, susceptible patients in long-term-care facilities should be immunized.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1996

Infection control in practice. Infection control--peer review.

There is increasing public and government concern about the risks of transmission of diseases in dentistry. This can be addressed by implementing a voluntary self regulatory infection control assessment process. Such a system (AMADA Quality Management) has been developed and implemented in South Australia and has eased the pressure on the Government to legislate for the establishment of minimum infection control standards for the dental profession. Control of these issues has remained with the profession an the standards achieved have been high and sustainable.

Australia↗
PubMed1994

Hospital administrators' tolerance of staff needlestick injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To survey hospital administrators regarding their opinions of an acceptable frequency of staff needlestick injury and the frequency that would prompt additional preventive action. DESIGN: A simple anonymous questionnaire sent to 960 administrators with one reminder. Data were collected regarding hospital size and community role, whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients had ever been treated, presence of an infection control practitioner, estimation of the proportion of staff vaccinated against hepatitis B, and opinions as to the acceptable frequency of needlestick accidents and the accident frequency, requiring additional action. SETTING: 240 public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: The executive officers, directors of medical services, directors of nursing, and safety officers of the hospitals surveyed. RESULTS: The response rate was 50%. Administrators' opinions of acceptable accident frequency increased with hospital size and (independently of size) with experience with HIV-infected patients, and with the presence of a full-time infection control practitioner. Accident frequencies judged to require additional preventive action were higher than injury frequencies regarded as acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The hospital administrators surveyed accept staff needlestick injuries as inevitable, the more so in hospitals that have treated known HIV-infected patients and that have full-time infection control practitioners.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1999

Infection control and changes in management of hospitals: the European experience.

The general setting for the management of many European hospitals has undergone enormous changes during the last five to 10 years, especially with respect to economic, personnel and technical resources. This change has had a serious influence on the practice of infection control. To get an insight of the problems infection control practitioners in Europe today have to face, hospital epidemiologists representing nine European countries were asked to answer a questionnaire. In most countries, new laws on communicable disease prevention and infection control in hospitals have been implemented during the last few years. In conjunction with the widespread introduction of quality assurance and the accreditation of hospitals, organizational aspects of infection control have gained importance. However, budget restrictions and the growing competition between institutions are major challenges. In general, there has been a remarkable influence of the documented changes on the practice of infection control in European hospitals. Facing this situation, infection control practitioners should abandon unproven measures and implement those that are evidence-based, to prevent hospital acquired infection (HAI). Cost reducing initiatives, like the use of well designed multi-use devices and the reuse of disposables should be considered and scientifically assessed.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2002

[Infection control in interventional radiology: good practice guideline].

PURPOSE: In 1997, two studies were performed in interventional radiology units, one of them by the CCLIN Paris-Nord and the other, by the staff of the vascular radiology department of Hautepierre Hospital of Strasbourg in collaboration with the CCLIN Est. The results have shown poor compliance with recommended infection control guidelines and standard precautions. A working group was set up by the CCLIN Paris-Nord, with radiologists, radiology technicians, nurses and infection control practitioners to elaborate guidelines for infection control practices in interventional radiology. Materials and methods. These guidelines were compiled using legislation, consensus or expert conferences, evaluations or studies which had demonstrated a benefit to prevent infectious risk. The working group also formulated its own recommendations when no pre-existing document was available. These recommendations have been categorized according to evidence of benefit in infectious risk prevention. RESULTS: Guidelines are divided in two parts. The first part describes rooms and optimal architecture of the interventional radiology unit, flows (patients, staff, material, linen and waste), type of floor and furniture surfaces, and environment of the interventional unit (air, water, room and device cleaning). The second part details staff garments, hand washing procedures according to tasks, and protection against accident for the staff (accidental blood exposure, antimitotic drugs). Recommendations have been elaborated for patients'skin preparation and equipment handling (contrast product, automatic injector, US, scanner). A proposal for work organization is made regarding nursing protocols, documents of maintenance, surveillance of medical devices.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Preventing infections in nursing homes: a survey of infection control practices in southeast Michigan.

BACKGROUND: Studies on adherence to infection control policies in nursing homes (NHs) are limited. This pilot study explores the use of various infection control practices and the role of infection control practitioners in southeast Michigan NHs. METHODS: A 43-item self-administered questionnaire and explanatory cover letter were mailed to 105 licensed NHs in southeast Michigan. A second mailing was sent to the nonresponders 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Significant variability existed in adoption of various infection control measures with respect to time spent in infection control activities (50% of facilities having a full-time infection control practitioner), definitions used in monitoring infections, and immunization rates (influenza: range, 0%-100%; mean, 73.2%; pneumococcal: range, 0%-100%; mean, 38.5%). CONCLUSION: Although strides have been made in infection control research in NHs, significant variations exist in implementation of infection control methods and guidelines. Future research should focus on identifying barriers to infection control in NHs.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2004

Risk factors for surgical-site infection following primary total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with the development of surgical-site infection (SSI) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: A 1,100-bed, university-affiliated, tertiary-care teaching hospital. METHODS: Case-patients with SSI occurring up to 1 year following primary TKA performed between January 1999 and December 2001 were identified prospectively by infection control practitioners using National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System methods. Three control-patients were selected for each case-patient, matched by date of surgery. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relation of potential risk factors to the development of infection. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with infections (6 superficial and 16 deep) were identified. Infection rates per year were 0.95%, 1.07%, and 1.19% in 1999, 2000, and 2001, respectively. Logistic regression analysis identified two variables independently associated with the development of infection: the use of closed suction drainage (odds ratio [OR], 7.0; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 2.1-25.0; P = .0015) and increased international normalized ratio (INR) (OR, 2.4; CI95, 1.1-5.7; P = .035). Factors not statistically associated with the development of infection included age, NNIS System risk index score, presence of various comorbidities, surgeon, duration of procedure or tourniquet time, type of bone cement or prosthesis used, or receipt of blood product transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: The use of closed suction drainage and a high postoperative INR were associated with the development of SSI following TKA. Avoiding the use of surgical drains and careful monitoring of anticoagulant prophylaxis in patients undergoing TKA should reduce the risk of infection.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the rehabilitation setting.

Preventing the spread of infection is a team effort. Development and use of rehabilitation-based infection control practices for control of ARO nosocomial infections must be a priority for rehabilitation research. Ongoing infection control surveillance of ARO presence, along with monitoring of resistance patterns, equips infection control practitioners with scientific data to identify appropriate barriers for use in the rehabilitation setting. Modification of antimicrobial usage may offer hope for reversing some of the damage done. With the assistance of physicians, infection control practitioners, laboratory personnel and others, we can prevent the spread of these dangerous organisms.

Enterococcus↗
PubMed1999

Investigation of an outbreak of nosocomial infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the surgical ward of Tokyo Metropolitan Fuchu Hospital.

Our hospital, a 756-bed non-teaching general hospital, acts as a tertiary ambulatory center and has an 89-bed surgical ward. The present study is concerned with how the presence of an infection control practitioner (ICP) affects the results of infection control. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nosocomial infections (according to the definitions of nosocomial infections) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the surgical ward were retrospectively studied in two periods: from February 1989 to June 1990 and from January 1992 to December 1994. Infection control procedures were established in November 1989 when the surgical ward was transferred to a new building. An ICP was present from November 1989 to June 1990, and from July 1993 to December 1994 and supervised infection control so that the infection control procedures were uniformly practiced by all staff in the surgical ward. After the appointment of the ICP, the infection rate per 100 admissions decreased from 3.2 to 1.2 (P < 0.05) in the first period and from 2.5 to 1.7 in the second period. After the appointment of the ICP, the infection rate per 1000 patient days decreased from 1.11 to 0.49 in the first period and from 1.00 to 0.67 in the second period. Hospital stay periods for patients with the same enterotoxin and coagulase types overlapped in 16 patients in the absence of the ICP and in 4 patients in the presence of the ICP, respectively, in the first period. The present study suggested that infection rates decreased in the presence of an ICP.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nursing care of the immunosuppressed patient.

The primary objectives of nurses caring for the immunosuppressed patient are to create a safe, peaceful environment and to promote the quality of the patient's life. Strengthening the patient's defense mechanisms is inherent in these nursing objectives, and the nurse must have certain competencies to reinforce these defense mechanisms. One competency is a thorough understanding of the immunosuppressed patient. The infection control practitioner (ICP) should assist the nurse in understanding what an immunosuppressed patient is, what his risk of infection is, what his reaction to infection might be, and what isolation practices are appropriate. Another necessary nursing skill is proficiency in patient assessment, not only when the patient is admitted, but on a continuous basis since the patient's status can change so rapidly. Finally the nurse must have the ability to implement appropriate nursing measures. The nurse must use the principles of asepsis in all patient care activities, recognize risk factors of infection, and understand the importance of such details as proper nutrition, oral hygiene, and skin care. Psychological support is also an essential part of the nursing care plan. Nursing care affects the well-being of the immunosuppressed patient and infection control practitioners have a role in ascertaining that nurses know how to treat such patients appropriately.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1985

Infection control programs in twelve North Carolina extended care facilities.

To assess the scope of infection control programs in extended care facilities, 1-day surveys were conducted in 12 North Carolina facilities over an 8-month period using a standardized questionnaire. All 12 facilities had a designated infection control practitioner (ICP), although none had attended an infection control education course. Eleven had an Infection Control Committee of which 8 (73%) met regularly. The Director of Nurses generally (58%) was the ICP and spent about 2 hr/wk on infection control. Ten (83%) facilities conducted infection surveillance among residents but did not accurately compute nosocomial infection rates. Eleven (92%) facilities had employee health programs that included preemployment and annual tuberculosis screening. None had a comprehensive resident health program. Infection control aspects of patient care practices often varied from facility to facility. Nosocomial infection surveillance among 336 residents in 9 facilities using modified CDC criteria revealed an overall prevalence rate of 5.4%. Additional infections were suspected but not included because of limitations of laboratory data and chart documentation.

Cross Infection↗