In The News
ACCORDING TO THE CDC:
IMPORTANT, CURRENT STATISTICS THAT AFFECT PHYSICIANS, YOUR PATIENTS AND YOUR PRACTICE.
Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI's): Statistics and Root Causes
- A March 2009 report published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report identified hepatitis C transmission in an outpatient hemodialysis unit in New York from 2001 to 2008.
Of 162 patients, 18 percent were hepatitis C positive on admission, but 10 percent more acquired hepatitis C during their treatment.
The report cited a number of clinic problems, including inadequate cleaning, failure to wear or change gloves between patients, failure to perform hand hygiene after contact with patients, no clean area for medication preparation and short turnover periods between patient treatments.
- More than 100,000 patients have been notified in the past ten years that they were at risk of contracting hepatitis and HIV due to unsafe infection control practices in the ambulatory setting. Hundreds of these patients contracted either hepatitis B, C or HIV.
- As of January 2009 the CDC described 33 infection outbreaks in 15 states in a ten year period (1998 to 2008). The infections were caused by syringe re use and or medication, fluid or equipment contamination.
- A survey found that 3% of clinicians reused the same needle and or syringe on multiple patients.
- August 2009: The VA inspector general announced that 43% of the departments medical facilities were non compliant with infection control procedures. More than 11,000 veterans who underwent endoscopy procedures have been notified that they be tested for HBV, HCV and HIV. To date, 8 have tested positive for HIV, 12 for HBV and 37 for HVC.
Ref: Washington Post 8/24/09 and www.va.gov
- According to the CDC outbreaks of healthcare acquired infections (HAI's) of hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) have occurred in the following ambulatory care settings:
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- Private Medical Practices
- Pain Clinics
- Endoscopy Centers
MOVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE FORWARD