[http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/148to158.pdf]
A. Hand washing
· Wash hands after touching blood, secretions, excretions and contaminated items, whether or not gloves are worn. · Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed, between patient contacts.
· Use a plain soap for routine hand washing.
· Use an antimicrobial agent for specific circumstances.
B. Gloves
Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items.
Put on clean gloves just before touching mucous membranes and non-intact skin.
C. Mask, eye protection, face shield
Wear a mask and eye protection or a face shield during procedures and patientcare activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions.
D. Gown
Wear a gown during procedures and patient-care activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions.
E. Patient-care equipment
Ensure that reusable equipment is not used for the care of another patient until it has been cleaned and reprocessed appropriately.
F. Environmental control
Ensure that the hospital has adequate procedures for the routine care, cleaning, and disinfection of environmental surfaces.
G. Linen
Handle used linen, soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions in a manner that prevents skin and mucous membrane exposures, and that avoids transfer of microorganisms to other patients and environments.
H. Occupational health and bloodborne pathogens
· Take care to prevent injuries when using needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments or devices.
· Use ventilation devices as an alternative to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation methods.
I. Place of care of the patient
Place a patient who contaminates the environment or who does not assist in maintaining appropriate hygiene in an isolated (or separate) room.
12/02/2009
Essentials of the standard precautions to be used in the care of all patients
Hospital infection rates in England out of control
Zosia Kmietowicz/ London [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1117592]
The NHS in England could save an estimated £150m ($240m) and many hundreds of lives by tightening hygiene rules in hospitals and investing in infection control, according to the spending watchdog the National Audit Office. The money could then be ploughed back into patient care.
At least 100000 cases of hospital acquired infections occur each year in England, with an estimated 5000 deaths, all of which cost the NHS in the region of £1bn annually, states the report.
Better education of staff on the spread of infection, improved surveillance of patients who have had major surgery, and the involvement of senior clinicians and management in the control of infection could reduce this burden by 15%Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, told parliament.
At any one time 9%of patients in hospital are being treated for an infection they acquired there. Yet one in five trusts do not have an infection control programme, 40%are dissatisfied with their isolation facilities, and 60%have no defined budget.
Despite guidance from the Department of Health that chief executives should take overall responsibility for ensuring effective infection control, there is little evidence of their involvement. More than half were not aware of the resources spent on hospital acquired infection or the number of cases, says the report.
“Hospital infections are a huge problem for the NHS,” said Sir John. “They prolong patients' stay in hospital and, in worst cases, cause permanent disability and even death. By implementing the [National Audit Office's] recommendations, the NHS could make real improvements in the quality of care for patients and free up significant additional resources,” he added.
Among other recommendations, he said that hospitals should join the nosocomial infection national surveillance scheme, which collects statistics on infection rates to allow local comparisons to be made.
More research on appropriate staffing levels is also warranted. In some areas a single infection control nurse is expected to cover over 1000 beds—a number described by the report as “unacceptably high.”
Moreover, despite a recommendation by the Royal College of Pathologists that the ratio of infection control doctors to beds should be 1:1000, only 46 trusts out of the 219 studied by the report reached that standard.
David Davis MP, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, commented: “There is clear evidence that in many cases investing more in infection control—for example, by funding more infection control nurses—would save both cash and lives. There would also be a dramatic improvement in the quality of care for many other patients.”
The Management and Control of Hospital Acquired Infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England is available through the National Audit Office's home page (www.nao.gov.uk).
The NHS in England could save an estimated £150m ($240m) and many hundreds of lives by tightening hygiene rules in hospitals and investing in infection control, according to the spending watchdog the National Audit Office. The money could then be ploughed back into patient care.
At least 100000 cases of hospital acquired infections occur each year in England, with an estimated 5000 deaths, all of which cost the NHS in the region of £1bn annually, states the report.
Better education of staff on the spread of infection, improved surveillance of patients who have had major surgery, and the involvement of senior clinicians and management in the control of infection could reduce this burden by 15%Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, told parliament.
At any one time 9%of patients in hospital are being treated for an infection they acquired there. Yet one in five trusts do not have an infection control programme, 40%are dissatisfied with their isolation facilities, and 60%have no defined budget.
Despite guidance from the Department of Health that chief executives should take overall responsibility for ensuring effective infection control, there is little evidence of their involvement. More than half were not aware of the resources spent on hospital acquired infection or the number of cases, says the report.
“Hospital infections are a huge problem for the NHS,” said Sir John. “They prolong patients' stay in hospital and, in worst cases, cause permanent disability and even death. By implementing the [National Audit Office's] recommendations, the NHS could make real improvements in the quality of care for patients and free up significant additional resources,” he added.
Among other recommendations, he said that hospitals should join the nosocomial infection national surveillance scheme, which collects statistics on infection rates to allow local comparisons to be made.
More research on appropriate staffing levels is also warranted. In some areas a single infection control nurse is expected to cover over 1000 beds—a number described by the report as “unacceptably high.”
Moreover, despite a recommendation by the Royal College of Pathologists that the ratio of infection control doctors to beds should be 1:1000, only 46 trusts out of the 219 studied by the report reached that standard.
David Davis MP, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, commented: “There is clear evidence that in many cases investing more in infection control—for example, by funding more infection control nurses—would save both cash and lives. There would also be a dramatic improvement in the quality of care for many other patients.”
The Management and Control of Hospital Acquired Infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England is available through the National Audit Office's home page (www.nao.gov.uk).
BMJ. 2000 February 26; 320(7234): 534.
PMCID: PMC1117592
Copyright © 2000, British Medical Journal
Hospital acquired infections
[http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/private-hospitals/hospital-infections-guide/]
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are one of the most pressing issues facing our health services today. According to the Department of Health 1 in 10 patients acquires a HAI, and those who do contract an infection stay in hospital nearly three times longer than ordinary patients, placing tremendous financial pressure on the already strapped-for-cash health services.
The two hospital acquired infections, known as 'superbugs', posing a particularly serious threat to our hospital wards are MRSA and C. difficile. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and is a form of bacteria from the Staphylococcus aureus (SA) family. If SA bacteria get into the body via cuts or wounds they can cause a boil or abscess and more seriously blood poisoning or a heart-valve infection. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium from the Clostridium family causing diarrhoea and in more serious cases damage to the colon and intestines.
Many experts believe that the misuse of antibiotics has caused the drug-resistant SA infections to occur (if a course of treatment is not finished some of the bacteria can multiply and survive a range of antibiotics) and the high turnover of patients and high bed occupancy rates in our health services compound the problem. Indeed, the Health Protection Agency believes that reducing bed occupancy in NHS hospitals to 85%, or lower, is a crucial move to reduce the incidence of HAIs, but it is a Catch-22 situation as it is difficult to eliminate the superbugs with such a high volume of patients.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are one of the most pressing issues facing our health services today. According to the Department of Health 1 in 10 patients acquires a HAI, and those who do contract an infection stay in hospital nearly three times longer than ordinary patients, placing tremendous financial pressure on the already strapped-for-cash health services.
The two hospital acquired infections, known as 'superbugs', posing a particularly serious threat to our hospital wards are MRSA and C. difficile. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and is a form of bacteria from the Staphylococcus aureus (SA) family. If SA bacteria get into the body via cuts or wounds they can cause a boil or abscess and more seriously blood poisoning or a heart-valve infection. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium from the Clostridium family causing diarrhoea and in more serious cases damage to the colon and intestines.
Many experts believe that the misuse of antibiotics has caused the drug-resistant SA infections to occur (if a course of treatment is not finished some of the bacteria can multiply and survive a range of antibiotics) and the high turnover of patients and high bed occupancy rates in our health services compound the problem. Indeed, the Health Protection Agency believes that reducing bed occupancy in NHS hospitals to 85%, or lower, is a crucial move to reduce the incidence of HAIs, but it is a Catch-22 situation as it is difficult to eliminate the superbugs with such a high volume of patients.
The Right Environment for Premature Babies
It's a challenge for doctors who treat premature babies. How do you best recreate an environment closest to the womb for babies who should still be there?(...)
the whole article: http://www.sanfordhealth.org/Newsroom/VideoLibrary/VideoStories/TheRightEnvironmentforPrematureBabies/index.cfm
the whole article: http://www.sanfordhealth.org/Newsroom/VideoLibrary/VideoStories/TheRightEnvironmentforPrematureBabies/index.cfm
Environmental Sensitivity: Little Known Facts About Premature Baby
(...)Premature babies react more to changes in temperature, light, sound, scent and activity than full-term babies...
A premature baby who may only be recently out of the hospital does not need to be around a whole group of people. When a preemie has too much stimulus, he or she will basically shut down....
Preemies can also respond negatively to any extreme lighting.This includes not only harsh or too-bright lighting, but also to rooms that are too dark. Any pre-term infant that has spent time in a NICU also spent his or her days and nights with some kind of lighting. Hospital NICUs are never completely dark...
whole article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/202299/environmental_sensitivity_little_known.html?cat=5
A premature baby who may only be recently out of the hospital does not need to be around a whole group of people. When a preemie has too much stimulus, he or she will basically shut down....
Preemies can also respond negatively to any extreme lighting.This includes not only harsh or too-bright lighting, but also to rooms that are too dark. Any pre-term infant that has spent time in a NICU also spent his or her days and nights with some kind of lighting. Hospital NICUs are never completely dark...
whole article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/202299/environmental_sensitivity_little_known.html?cat=5
National Geographic - In The Womb 1/10
Series of videos recorded the miracle of birth of human being.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxpI2UtuWQ&feature=PlayList&p=3C2EEE1B07864AD2&index=0&playnext=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxpI2UtuWQ&feature=PlayList&p=3C2EEE1B07864AD2&index=0&playnext=1
Incubators in earlier times 1883
Artificial womb-like protective environment, the couveuse, developed by Etienne Stephane Tarnier for premature babies.
Infant could be accessed through door (P).
Infant could be viewed through movable glass cover (d).
Space (K) filled with sawdust to insulate the cubicle.
Heater (Th) raised water (W) temperature.
Ventilating air (L) was warmed as it flowed around water reservoir before entering infant cubicle.
https://eee.uci.edu/clients/bjbecker/NatureandArtifice/lecture18.html
Babies placed in incubators decrease risk of depression as adults
Babies who receive incubator care after birth are two to three times less likely to suffer depression as adults according to a new study published in the journal Pyschiatry Research. The surprising discovery was made by scientists from the Université de Montréal and Sainte Justine Hospital Research Center in collaboration with researchers from McGill University, the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College in the U.K.
http://www.physorg.com/news145543850.html
http://www.physorg.com/news145543850.html
Costs of Preterm Birth
Prematurity can have a severe effect on newborns and their families. Additionally, premature birth in the U.S. puts a significant burden on the U.S. healthcare system. Employers are also affected by associated healthcare costs and reduced workplace productivity.http://www.fullterm.net/hcp/preterm_birth/costs.html
What is a premature baby?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_birth
In humans, preterm birth (PB) refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. Premature birth, commonly used as a synonym for preterm birth, refers to the birth of a premature infant. Because it is by far the most common cause of prematurity, preterm birth is the major cause of neonatal mortality in developed countries. Premature infants are at greater risk for short and long term complications, including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development. Significant progress has been made in the care of premature infants, but not in reducing the prevalence of preterm birth.[1] The cause for PB is in many situations elusive and unknown; many factors appear to be associated with the development of PB, making the reduction of PB a challenging proposition.
Epidemiology
As weight is easier to determine than gestational age, the World Health Organization tracks rates of low birth weight (<>
In humans, preterm birth (PB) refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. Premature birth, commonly used as a synonym for preterm birth, refers to the birth of a premature infant. Because it is by far the most common cause of prematurity, preterm birth is the major cause of neonatal mortality in developed countries. Premature infants are at greater risk for short and long term complications, including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development. Significant progress has been made in the care of premature infants, but not in reducing the prevalence of preterm birth.[1] The cause for PB is in many situations elusive and unknown; many factors appear to be associated with the development of PB, making the reduction of PB a challenging proposition.
Epidemiology
As weight is easier to determine than gestational age, the World Health Organization tracks rates of low birth weight (<>
Incubators influences the heartbeat of a newborn
GERMAN:
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/magazin/wissen/nature-news/Neonatologie-Babies-Herzrhythmus;art15656,2525355
This webpage talks about that incubator changes the heart beat of a baby. Scientists from the Uni Siena (IT) figured out that the machine emits electromagnetic rays that influences the heart beat, if the incubator is "on". The heart rate decrease which is a drastic problem. On the other hand the incubators are necessary for premature infants, until now scientists didnt find another or better solution.
But its stressfull for the small body of a premature infant when they switch on and off the incubator. The heart beat will in- and decrease.
10% of all births are preamture infants and its easier for them to die a cot death. Until now scientists dont know if the electromagnetic rays are blame for it.
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/magazin/wissen/nature-news/Neonatologie-Babies-Herzrhythmus;art15656,2525355
This webpage talks about that incubator changes the heart beat of a baby. Scientists from the Uni Siena (IT) figured out that the machine emits electromagnetic rays that influences the heart beat, if the incubator is "on". The heart rate decrease which is a drastic problem. On the other hand the incubators are necessary for premature infants, until now scientists didnt find another or better solution.
But its stressfull for the small body of a premature infant when they switch on and off the incubator. The heart beat will in- and decrease.
10% of all births are preamture infants and its easier for them to die a cot death. Until now scientists dont know if the electromagnetic rays are blame for it.
The Neonatal Unit
interesting information addressed to the mother:
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/prembaby/scbu/
BAPM
British Association of Perinatal Medicine
(click on name to view website)
includes annual reports and publications that might be of interest
(click on name to view website)
includes annual reports and publications that might be of interest
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