Everybody’s Talking About Infection Control

September 2022

We are living in critical times. With the spread of infections such as COVID, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and monkey pox – experts predict that preventing the spread of infection will be an ongoing challenge for health care professionals in the future.

In the health care sector, preventing the spread of infection has always been of paramount importance.

However, the current rate of infection around the world means that health care professionals must be more proactive than ever before about managing and controlling the spread of infection.

Health care professionals must consider the best way to protect their staff, patients, and the community.

According to the New South Wales Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), hospital acquired infections (HAI) are a major concern for health care professionals.

In Australia, approximately 165,000 hospital acquired infections occur in health care facilities every year. Additionally, it is estimated that HAI cases account for occupying about 2 million hospital beds. 

Hospital acquired infections can occur when staff are exposed to a virus and carry it out of a medical setting into the community. But more commonly, HAI complications affect patients, many of whom were admitted for a routine medical procedure. 

Studies show that most HAI cases can be traced back to the treatment of a surgical wound or the insertion of medical devices such as an intravenous drip, urinary catheter, or wound drain. 

However, with airborne viruses like COVID and influenza, it can often be difficult to pinpoint the source of the transmission.

According to the CDC, “Data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) show significantly higher incidence in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), ventilator-associated events (VAEs), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia in 2021 compared to 2019.

HAIs also put further pressure on already strained healthcare resources. According to the CEC, most HAIs are preventable if health care professionals take the necessary steps to mitigate the risk of infection.

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we recognise the challenges health care professionals are presently facing with staying ahead of the curve on infection prevention and control and managing the risks.

It is important to raise awareness about best practices, policies, and procedures that can help reduce the risk of infection. This is why the Health Care Team at Thermo Fisher Scientific has committed to providing solutions and guidance to help the industry navigate the challenges and risks of infection control.

The following are some best practices for preventing infection and some products from our portfolio that support them:

• Washing hands with soap and or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers
• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye shields
• Cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment between patient use using disinfectant and alcohol wipes
• Maintaining a clean working environment at all times
• Raising awareness about the importance of safety measures and how to implement them

References:

1. New South Wales Clinical Excellence Commission, Healthcare Associated Infections.
2. Monegro AF, Muppidi V, Regunath H. Hospital Acquired Infections. [Updated 2022 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from:
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Impact on HAIs in 2021.
4. Australian Government. ICEG-endorsed resources for infection prevention and control.
5. Australian Government. Minimising the risk of infectious respiratory disease transmission in the context of COVID-19: the hierarchy of controls.
6. Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Healthcare. National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition).