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A N E S T H E S I A
&
I N F E C T I O N S
DIFFERING VIEWS Do you agree that anesthesia providers are often much
less aware than surgeons and nurses regarding accepted aseptic practices?
Is There an Infection Risk
At the Head of the Table?
There might be if your anesthesia providers practice
Chuck Biddle, CRNA, PhD | Richmond, Va.
poor hand hygiene.
Y
ou might not worry about your anesthesia providers spreading
infections, but they can harm patients downstream from what
they do. Recent research (www.hospitalinfection.org/031110.pdf)
strongly suggests it's time to pay more attention to the men and
women at the head of the table. Ask yourself:
• Do your anesthetists wipe down the laryngoscope handles between
cases, or do they throw them right back in the drawer?
• Do they put gloves on to start an IV? (Putting a glove on 1 hand
doesn't count.)
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2013
