I’ve written a number of times previously about the issues surrounding infection control, but it’s especially serious in long-term care facilities, where it’s estimated that around 400,000 people die per year from healthcare associated infections.
A recent study found that nursing homes remain ill equipped to deal with such infections. Researchers examined the state of care homes in Tennessee and Washington State using a tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It found that staff at the facilities had very little formal education in infection control, whilst high staff turnover rendered consistent control programs challenging.
“The findings presented here are concerning and should prompt immediate efforts to increase education and support for infection prevention programs in all types of long term care facilities (LTCFs),” the authors say. “Nursing home residents often have multiple, chronic diseases, transfer frequently between the hospital and the long-term care setting, and are overexposed to antibiotics, all of which place them at higher risk for developing infections with antibiotic-resistant organisms.”
Central to this was alack of resources and training in infection prevention. This is especially concerning as long-term care facilities tend to admit sicker patients than is the norm. A combination of a lack of staffing and poor training mean infections often don’t get tackled adequately at all.
Tech solutions
Whilst technology may not be able to help staffing levels, there have nonetheless been a number of interesting innovations that look to reduce the spread of infections in healthcare facilities.
I wrote a few years ago about an innovative new technology that was using lighting to try and tackle the problem.
Vital Vio is a novel approach at reducing the bacteria levels in places such as hospitals and kitchens. The service utilizes a form of disinfectant lighting, which the makers believe will reduce the kind of harmful microrganisms that are so rife in our hospitals by as much as 99.9%.
Once the system is in place, it provides a round the clock service, providing the facilities it is used in a continous protection against bugs such as mRSA, E.Coli and Salmonella.
Taking a slightly different tack are the Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute Ltd (NIRI). The Leeds based organization have developed antibacterial push pads and pull handles to be fitted to doors in hospitals to try and halt the spread of infection. The hope is that it bolsters the infection control within hospitals by providing an extra layer of protection for the time between someone washing their hands and using a door.
The Surfaceskin pads self-disinfect themselves each time the door is opened. The pads release a small amount of antibacterial solution via a micro-valved top sheet. The pads are designed to kill many of the commonest germs present in hospitals, including MRSA and Norovirus.
“NHS England statistics show that between four and nine thousand people die each year from healthcare-related infections. Our overarching aim is to have a positive impact on the health care sector, so with 80% of health care infections stemming from touch and our hands, we believe this technology could make a huge difference,” NIRI say.
Suffice to say, most of these innovations are being trialed in acute settings, but perhaps in time they can make their way into more residential environments too.
