The Importance of Hand-Washing in a Hospital Environment

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Why is proper hand washing in a hospital setting vital to a patient’s health? Hospitals all across America are cracking down on employees washing their hands before and after leaving a patients room. Patients are coming in for a simple procedure and staying longer due to the fact of catching something while in the hospital. Three of the major infections patients are catching are c-Diff (clostridium Difficile), MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus), and Norovirus. “ If employees followed the guidelines by CDC (Center for Disease Control) and their employer infections can be reduce by up to one- third” ( Creedon 208-209). One of the major infections hospitals are seeing is C-Diff also known as clostridium Difficile. Symptoms ranges from diarrhea to life threaten inflammation of the colon. C-Diff usually occurs after antibiotic medications like penicillin and clindamycin (Deborah Sharp, RN, BSN). C –Diff was first identified in the 1930 in the feces of healthy newborns, but the organism was not considered a pathogen (Harvard Health edu). C-Diff disrupts the normal flora in the intestine allowing the proliferation of the C-Diff bacteria. A person staying longer in the hospital can increase their risk of catching this infection. A person with this infection can transmit the organism to others by contaminating environmental and skin surfaces. Healthcare workers become carriers through transmission that likely occurs via spores that lay dormant on their hands (Dr. Swartz) This is why proper hand washing is essential, since healthcare workers can pass it on. Antiseptic washes and alcohol – based gels do not get rid of C-Diff. the CDC says that people should wash with antimicrobial soap using friction for 15 seconds before ... ... middle of paper ... ...on. It may take patients to remind employees, but this has to stop we are losing too many people in a hospital setting due to neglect on the employees part. Works Cited Carlton, Cameron. RN, MSN, Director of Nursing at Moses Cone Hospital “C. difficile--associated disease on the rise." Harvard Women's Health Watch 14.8 (2007): 6-7. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. Code u Moses cone Newsletter, Jan (2011) 23-24 Creedon, Sile A. "Healthcare workers' hand decontamination practices: compliance with recommended guidelines." Journal of Advanced Nursing 51.3 (2005): 208-216. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. National Institute for Public Health.com Sharp, Deborah, RN BSN Infection control Moses Cone Hospital DR. Swartz, Zachery, Neurology Moses Cone Hospital Wordqvist, Christian. Medical News Today 11 February 2009

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