@lenora-leonard
Active 5 days, 12 hours agoLenora Leonard
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Margaruite, for the Q&A session could I please submit two questions?
1. What hospitals are prescribing mupirocin for decolonisation prior to implant surgery? What is the process as these prescriptions need a doctors signature?
2. What are hospitals using to decontaminate their drains? Frequency of decontamination & protocol.
Thank you.
Regards
Lenora -
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Hello all
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the CPD day. I’m not sure if the agenda is already finalised but I was wondering could we have a discussion on environmental decontamination in relation CPE. We are practically screening all patients now and finding more CPE. What are other facilities using to decontaminate their drains?
My second bone of contention is fit-testing. We bought equipment to complete this following the HSA advice during COVID but the staff that were trained to perform the fit-testing have left & tryin to get staff to attend is very difficult, plus lots of male staff have beards so hence unable to perform fit-testing. I absolutely promote the fit-check and teach that at orientation, etc. but are hospitals completing fit-testing and if yes who is responsible, IPC, H&S or OH?
Kind regards
Lenora -
Thank you Jean and @feah_visan for your responses. (I’m not sure Feah why I cannot see your response here but it came in in my email).
Even looking at the American guidelines it appears they too found it difficult to define different types of theatres and therefore stuck with Procedure Room (A procedure room is defined as a room for the performance of procedures that do not require an aseptic field but may require use of sterile instruments or supplies. Procedure rooms are considered unrestricted areas. Local anesthesia and minimal and moderate sedation may be administered in a procedure room, but anesthetic agents used in procedure rooms must not require special ventilation or scavenging equipment) AND Operating Rooms (OR) (An operating room (OR) is defined as a room in the surgical suite that meets the requirements of a restricted area and is designated and equipped for performing surgical operations or other invasive procedures that require an aseptic field. Any form of anesthesia may be administered in an OR as long as appropriate anesthesia gas administration devices and exhaust systems are provided. A hybrid operating room is an operating room that has permanently installed equipment to enable diagnostic imaging before, during, and after surgical procedures. (Use of portable imaging technology does not make an OR a hybrid operating room.))
They advise 20ACH in the OR while the HTM 03-01 2021 advise 22ACH.
I’ll advise to stick with the two facilities we have Minor Procedures Room and OR.
Have a good day everyone.
Regards
Lenora
Beacon Hospital -
Good morning Fiona
I don’t but I would be interested in replies. We are starting a major build and are in the process of looking at IPC measures including sealing windows and air purification systems but I anticipate that temperature control could be a problem. Generally once air coolers are managed properly and in the right environment then it should not be a problem i.e. change filters as directed by manufacturer and ensure no pooling of water.
Keep us posted on the outcome Fiona.Kind regards
Lenora
Beacon Hospital -
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Good morning Liam
Thank you very much Liam for these references. I could only find overall annual HCAI costs which didn’t help me but having the figures of €7,269 – €23,548 approx. for SSI (based on the figures from Ireland, UK & US in the references) is very constructive.
Anyone know where the reference 1 IPCN per 75 – 100 beds is located?
Kind regards
Lenora
Beacon Hospital -
Thank you to all the organisers of the IPC Ireland 2024 National Conference – Emer Ward, Margaruite O’Connor, Jincy Jerry, Tracy Doherty & Alison Maguinness (I hope I’m not missing anyone). The two day event (AGM, dinner & conference) was very successful and a great networking opportunity and educational event.
Looking forward to CPD day in October 2024.
Kind Regards
Lenora
Beacon Hospital -
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Hello Josephine
We’re looking at disposable Hijabs for theatre but have not made a decision yet. In relation to BBE it is vey difficult to get staff to comply with such a simply and straight forward recommendation. I encourage the ward managers and IPC Champions to prompt staff at handover each morning.
Summer time is the worst time for compliance due to wedding & holidays, the nail polish is very prevalent then 🙂
If anyone has any advice, I would gladly like to hear of it also.
Regards
Lenora
Beacon Hospital -
Hi Terry
We have advocated the use of masks in high risk areas in the hospital (but we have not made it mandatory) as follows:
Oncology ward
Oncology day unit
Infusion suite
ICU
Emergency Department.There is definitely an increase in COVID and to protect patients and staff we introduced this measure. We will review the situation in the community and make changes as required.
Regards
Lenora -
Hi Tracy
I think ours is similar. I first based ours on the old ICNA environmental hygiene audit tools and over the years have made some changes. We have now developed an online tool in FLEX and have adapted the audit tool for different areas such as theatre.
I’ve enclosed the basic audit tool we use.
Regards
Lenora -
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Thank you Emer for your response.
This is what we do also but the company have now brought out a c-circuit without the single use symbol and state it can be used for 7 days on different patients as long as a filter on it for each patient. I’m just nervous about reusing it as with the corrugated tubing it is difficult to clean externally between patients.
Anyone else have any advice?Regards
Lenora
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