Wound cleansing and the application of adequate phase-oriented wound dressings are an important line of defence against surgical site infections (SSI), a serious complication which affects millions of patients every year. Dressings not only act as a physical barrier to avoid wound contamination but can actively support the healing process.
Along with hygienic hand disinfection, medical gloves are an essential measure for infection control – if used correctly. Hygiene expert Dr Günter Kampf explains when and why gloves should be worn.
Few people have recognised the medical necessity of hand hygiene the way Professor Didier Pittet has for more than a quarter-century. Pittet serves as the director of the Infection Control Programme at the University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine and World Health Organization (WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety); in addition, he is the lead adviser of the WHO’s First Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer Care. As a global authority in role of healthcare-associated infections (HAI), he gives us an overview of how hand hygiene makes a life-saving difference.
Every year, noroviruses pose considerable challenges to the staff of medical and long-term care facilities, particularly in the months from October to April. Statistics from reporting systems show that children under the age of five and adults over the age of 70 are the most affected. Olaf Stolz is a freelance hygiene specialist and advises care facilities and nursing homes, among others, on hygiene issues. We spoke with him about difficulties as well as solutions when dealing with noroviruses in nursing homes.
Every year more than half a million patients in Europe suffer surgical site infections (SSIs). Wearing two layers of surgical gloves, called double gloving, can reduce the risk of SSI and protects patients as well as healthcare staff. If damage to the top surgical glove occurs, an underglove provides a second barrier to contamination. But are two gloves really better than one? We look at the results of relevant studies.
The problem of retained surgical materials after surgery can have severe consequences both for patients and entire medical teams. Evidence-based policies and close monitoring, along with a seamless and clear communication, are essential to enhance patient safety.
Do good and talk about it: In her “Hygiene Communication Concept”, Claudia James, hygiene-specialist and managing director at HyTrain GmbH, explains how communication can improve hand hygiene compliance of physicians and nursing staff. By voicing hand disinfection staff shapes own hygiene behaviour and at the same time gives patients valuable insights into possibilities to participate in their own healing process. In our interview, the expert describes the background to her findings and gives specific instructions for putting these into practice.
Professor Didier Pittet serves as the director of the Infection Control Programme at the University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine. He was also the lead adviser of World Health Organization’s First Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer Care.
