Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC, Founder and President of Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS), has contributed a column to Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control discussing infection prevention and infection control deficiencies.
The story focuses on 10 of the most common deficiencies cited by Medicare and/or accreditation surveys across the continuum of care as observed by ICCS consultants from January 2018 through August 2018.
Access the column on deficiency findings.
Infection Control Standards Challenging Most Joint Commission-Accredited Organizations
The Joint Commission has issued its report on the top five most challenging requirements for the first half of 2018, and an infection control standard holds a spot on the list of many Joint Commission programs.
Here is a breakdown of those programs which had at least one infection control standard on its top five list, the standards which made the lists and their places on the top five, and the non-compliance rate for each standard.
Ambulatory Care Accreditation
IC.02.02.01 (The organization reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies.) came in second, with a 62% non-compliance rate.
IC.02.01.01 (The organization implements infection prevention and control activities.) came in fourth, with a 43% non-compliance rate.
Critical Access Hospital Accreditation
IC.02.02.01 (The critical access hospital reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies.) came in third, with a 69% non-compliance rate.
Home Care Accreditation
IC.02.01.01 (The organization implements the infection prevention and control activities it has planned.) came in second, with a 40% non-compliance rate.
Hospital Accreditation
IC.02.02.01 (The hospital reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies.) came in third, with a 74% non-compliance rate.
Nursing Care Center Accreditation
IC.02.01.01 (The organization implements its infection prevention and control plan.) came in second, with a 39% non-compliance rate.
IC.02.02.01 (The organization reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies.) came in fifth, with a 31% non-compliance rate.
Office-Based Surgery Practice Accreditation
IC.02.02.01 (The practice reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies.) came in first, with a 79% non-compliance rate. Note: This standard was far and away the most challenging; the second most challenging standard had a 43% non-compliance rate.
IC.02.01.01 (The practice implements infection prevention and control activities.) came in third, with a 38% non-compliance rate.
Infection control and prevention standards continue to present significant challenges to healthcare organizations, despite increased focus on these areas. Such standards have come under greater scrutiny from regulatory bodies and accreditation organizations in recent years. With organizations struggling to comply with requirements, there is no reason to believe this scrutiny will subside any time soon. Organizations must allocate appropriate resources to develop comprehensive infection control plans that meet standards and ultimately keep patients safe.
September is Sepsis Awareness Month, which provides us an opportunity to shine a light on this life-threatening condition. Sepsis occurs when an infection triggers a chain reaction in patients' bodies, quickly leading to tissue damage, organ failure and even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 1.7 million people get sepsis every year, with about 270,000 Americans dying from it. In fact, one in three patients who die in a hospital reportedly have sepsis.
The most frequently identified pathogens that cause infections turning into sepsis include Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and some types of Streptococcus. The four types of infections most often linked with sepsis are infections of the lungs; urinary track, skin and gut.
To help patients avoid sepsis, healthcare professionals should follow infection prevention best practices, including good hand hygiene and proper catheter removal. By preventing infections, healthcare professionals can prevent sepsis.
But healthcare professionals must also learn what signs to watch for that may indicate an infection has developed into sepsis. These include:
Confusion or disorientation
Shortness of breath
High heart rate
Fever, shivering and/or feeling very cold
Extreme pain or discomfort
Clammy or sweaty skin
Healthcare professionals must also know their facilities guidelines for diagnosing and managing sepsis as any delays in recognition and treatment can cause significant harm.
One facility type where sepsis rates are high is nursing homes, which is not surprising considering sepsis is most common in elderly individuals. It's also not a surprise when you consider that, as a Kaiser Health News (KHN) report notes, "Poor infection control ranks among the most common citations in nursing homes. Since 2015, inspectors have cited 72 percent of homes nationally for not having or following an infection control program."
To help patients and their families choose a nursing home, KHN conducted an analysis of Nursing Home Compare data available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Using this data, KHN developed tool that tracks infection-related deficiencies and staffing levels for nursing homes contracted with Medicare and/or Medicaid. Users of the tool can narrow their search down by state and then do a keyword search for a nursing home by name or city. Access the nursing home search tool.
One approach healthcare organizations can take to jumpstart their sepsis prevention efforts is to review the clinical practice guides for the management of sepsis ("Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016"), which were developed by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and most recently updated in 2016.
But what will ultimately make a bigger difference is an unwavering commitment to preventing infections. As noted earlier, you can't have sepsis without an existing infection. Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS) is a national provider of infection prevention and control services for nursing homes, hospitals and many other facility types. Contact ICCS today to learn more about how its team of expert infection prevention consulting service providers can assist your organization.
The August 2018 issue of the ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter has published.
The issue identifies some of the most pertinent infection prevention and control news from August. Topics covered in this issue include scope cleaning, handwashing and hand hygiene challenges, antibiotic stewardship, C. diff, MRSA and fluoroquinolones.
Access the issue by clicking here.
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The July 2018 issue of the ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter has published.
The issue identifies some of the most pertinent infection prevention and control news from July. Topics covered in this issue include dental unit waterline guidelines, hospital occupancy and infection risks, urinary catheter dangers, antibiotic resistance, infection prevention staffing and HIV guidelines.
Access the issue by clicking here.
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