Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Infection Control Supplement - May 2013

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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B A R R I E R P R O T E C T I O N some real-life photos published in Then there's that watch. Do you want to Outpatient Surgery Magazine. Many of swab it and find out what microbes it's har- these oversights are common in surgical boring? In addition, watches without elas- facilities — likely even yours — so look at tic bands are a pain to take off every time them as practical reminders for gaining hand hygiene is performed, which means compliance with PPE-related protocols he probably missed some spots while try- instead of pointing the finger of blame at ing to avoid waterlogging his timepiece. the staff and docs in the pictures who may Don't let anyone say to you, "I need to be or may not have known they were doing able to just look down and know what time anything wrong. it is." That's nonsense — there are clocks everywhere in critical care areas. Finally, a scrub gown should be worn as a scrub gown only, not for keeping warm. If it's cold in the OR, put on a scrub jacket. Steve Donisch/ASA That gown is (a) not protecting the front of her body and (b) is too flowing and bulky ANESTHESIA AWARENESS No one's wearing goggles; the anesthesiologist has bare hands and is wearing a watch; and the assistant is wearing a scrub gown as a robe. for her to know whether bodily fluids, bioburden or another substance have gotten on it and are being transported around What's Wrong With This Picture? S the facility. taff and physicians must wear gloves for all patient-care activities Spot the barrier protection missteps in these real-life photos. from cross-contamination, so I can't Patricia Castellano, RN | Mt. Kisco, N.Y. habits that surgical teams need to stop that description — if the patient coughs or perpetuating (maybe that's why I bucks, you're going to be exposed to T 3 7 help but spot the oft-overlooked bad during which there's any chance of contact with bodily fluids. Intubation fits he correct use of personal protec- became an infection control coordinator). microbes. That's also why the anesthesiol- tive equipment is vitally important Barrier protection may seem like a bland ogist should be wearing goggles — he's for shielding staff and patients topic so, to liven things up, let's examine standing right over the airway. SUPPLEMENT TO O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E | M AY 2013 M AY 2013 | S U P P L E M E N T COVER-UP SCANDAL She's wearing a hoodie or sweater over her scrubs, and she's removed the shield from her mask. TO O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E 3 8

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