Patient Safety Awareness Week

Nursing Program in Los Angeles

Do you know about the invisible healthcare crisis happening across hospitals in the US? 
Antibiotic resistance isn't just a problem in the meat we eat... 

Read more to find out about these antibiotic-resistant bacteria! 

1. "CDC says..."

Check out this fact on the official CDC Facebook page: "Patients can get serious infections called healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which are often caused by antibiotic-resistant germs." 

HAIs are commonly caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which may lead to sepsis (a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection) or death. Check out the facts below:

• 6 urgent or serious antibiotic-resistant threats, plus C. difficile, can cause HAIs.

• 50% of one common deadly HAI is currently being prevented.

• 1 in 4 catheter- and surgery-related HAIs are caused by six resistant bacteria in certain kinds of hospitals.

2. The Dirty Truth

These six bacteria are among the most deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, identified as urgent or serious threats by CDC:

• CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae),
• MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ),
• ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (extended-spectrum ß-lactamases),
• VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci),
• multi-drug resistant pseudomonas, and
• multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter.

3. What can YOU do? 

If you are a healthcare provider, to prevent infections and their spread, also improving antibiotic use:

• Follow recommendations for preventing C. difficile and infections that can occur after surgery or related to single-use catheters placed in the body.
• Follow recommended actions with every patient every time.
• Isolate patients when appropriate, and know antibiotic resistance patterns in your facility/area.
• Prescribe antibiotics correctly.
• Get cultures, start antibiotics promptly, and reassess 24-48 hours later.
• Know when to stop antibiotic treatment.

If you are a patient and/or a family member of a hospitalized patient, you can prevent infections and their spread by doing the following:

• If you have a catheter, ask daily if it’s necessary.
• If you are having surgery, ask your doctor how he/she prevents infections.
• Insist that everyone clean their hands before touching you.
• Clean your hands often.
• Explore the Hospital Compare tool for HAI data
• Ask if your antibiotic is necessary and what is being done to improve antibiotic use and protect patients.

4. Spread the Word, Not the Germs!

Show your support and use #UnitedforPatientSafety this week (March 13-19)! 
"Every day is Patient Safety Day" 

"United for Patient Safety is an ongoing education and engagement campaign that works to bring together diverse organizations with a commitment to patient safety and the general public to learn more about the topic, start important dialogue, and take action for improved safety conditions."

 Related Links

How to Insert a Foley Catheter 

Proper Eye Drop Instillation 

Proper Hand Washing Technique 

How to De-Stress Your Life

Sources

National Health Observances Calendar

CDC: Facebook

CDC: "Making Health Care Safer"

Mayo Clinic: Sepsis

United for Patient Safety