Infection Control Prevention - ASC's & Surgical Settings
Updates from Excellentia Advisory Group December 2011

in this issue

From the Desk of Mary Bennett, RN, CIC

Bug of the Month: Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NMT)

Product Evaluations

Immunocompromised Patients

What's In the News

Recent Questions & Answers For Mary Bennett, RN, CIC


 

From the Desk of Mary Bennett, RN, CIC
Mary Bennett RN CIC



Complimentary Webinar-12/15/2011-Sponsored by:

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New! Quality Reporting Officially Starts on 1/1/2012

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Greetings ASC Administrator or Directors!
  • Bug of the Month: Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NMT)
  • What are NMT? They are organisms we need to think about, because they may be acquired in health care settings, including ambulatory surgery facilities. They are species of mycobacteria outside of M. tuberculosis. Click to read more...

    Click Here to Read More on NMT
  • Product Evaluations
  • Are you a member of your facility's product evaluation committee? If so, you have an important role in the choice of products for your facility that are user friendly, safe, perform effectively, are environmentally responsible, cost effective, contribute to positive patient outcomes, and contribute to the prevention of infections.

    Click for the whole article
  • Immunocompromised Patients
  • Have you seen or performed procedures on immunocompromised patients in your surgery center? The chances are that you have. Why would I say that? There are increasing numbers of persons who are immunocompromised, and there are many causes for this increase. The aging population, infection with HIV and Hepatitis viruses, homelessness, and medical advances that prolong the life of persons who would have otherwise died of their disease processes, diabetes, tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, immunosuppressing medical treatment are some of the reasons for the increasing number of immunocompromised persons.

    Click Here for the full story...
  • What's In the News
  • It's National Handwashing Week; 12/4 to 12/10/11; Back to Basics Fun Video

    Preventing Bloodborne Pathogen Violations in the ASC: Q&A With AORN's Mary Ogg

    Medline Launches New Interactive Hand Hygiene Training Program

  • Recent Questions & Answers For Mary Bennett, RN, CIC
    • Is it necessary to dress out in surgical attire when setting up in a procedure room vs. the operating room?
    • Answer: AORN guidelines require surgical attire to be worn in areas where invasive procedures are done. Sterile supplies are being opened so wearing surgical attire is necessary.

    • I am unsure how we should answer the prophylactic antibiotic timing issue. We are an eye specialty and do not use prophylactic IV antibiotics. Our patients receive antibiotic injections directly into the eye during the surgical procedure, which is standard of care for ophthalmology procedures done in an ASC, as far as I can determine. How should this be reported?
    Answer:Because the format for the Quality Reporting requirement is for IV antibiotics, you would not be counting this for Quality Reporting. You would however, need to "count/track" if you determine you had a 30 day post op infection.

  • What is a hands-free sharp passing??
  • Answer:Hands-free sharp passing is a work practice control used to reduce the risk of sharps injury related to passing of sharps. Sharp items such as blades, needles, scalpels and so forth are not passed hand to hand. A neutral area is designated in the field; the sharp is placed on a tray or other holding device in the neutral area and is picked up from the tray.

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