National statistics from 2015 to 2019 indicated positive progress in reducing common hospital-associated infections (HAIs) across U.S. health facilities. However, the onset of the pandemic in 2020 caused a reversal of this trend. Recently, there has been a significant rise in certain HAIs, particularly those linked to the use of medical devices.
The pandemic, characterized by waves of variants, has led to a surge of patients being admitted to acute care facilities. Critically ill COVID-19 patients often require extended stays in intensive care units and increased usage of medical devices such as ventilators, catheters, and central lines. During 2020, the average ventilator use surged by approximately 30% compared to 2019. These factors significantly increase the likelihood of patients developing HAIs.
While some HAI rates have risen, others have shown a decline. The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), the largest HAI monitoring system in the U.S., released a report in 2021 summarizing data from the previous year. Comparing statistics from 2019 and 2020, the NHSN report highlighted the average annual increase in rates of medical device-related HAIs:
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) – up 2.6%
- Ventilator-associated events (VAE) – up 29.7%
- Central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) – up 27.4%
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections – up 15.3%
Conversely, some HAI rates continued to drop despite the pandemic. As mentioned in the CDC report, when COVID-19 emerged, hospitals intensified their existing infection prevention protocols to curb the spread of the virus within healthcare settings. The NHSN report suggests that these additional precautions, including enhanced environmental cleaning, rigorous PPE usage, and improved hand hygiene, may have contributed to a decrease in certain HAIs in 2020:
- Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs or C. Diff) – down 10.5%
- Colon surgical site infections (SSIs) – down 6.1%
- Abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections (SSIs) – down 7.3%
Promoting hand hygiene and infection prevention practices among healthcare workers is crucial. Visual cues for infection control procedures can be seamlessly integrated into daily workflows. For instance, placing hand sanitizer dispensers, exam glove dispensers, and waste bins at each entrance/exit point in patient treatment areas serves as a reminder for staff to sanitize their hands before donning gloves and after removing them. If the protocol requires handwashing between patients, especially after dealing with C. diff cases, signage should be placed above sinks to remind both staff and patients of this preventive measure.
It's essential to ensure that exam gloves and effective hand hygiene products are always accessible. Designating someone on each shift to maintain consumables and refill dispensers ensures no workstation runs short.
Infection control only functions when all frontline staff consistently and effectively participate in prevention efforts. CDC research indicates that poor hand hygiene, direct skin-to-skin contact, and improper glove usage contribute to the spread of HAIs. Protocols must include the following practices:
- Sanitize/wash hands before wearing gloves
- Change gloves after contact with bodily fluids or invasive devices
- Replace gloves if visibly damaged or soiled
- Switch gloves when transitioning from a contaminated to a clean site on the same patient
- Use fresh gloves for each new patient
- Avoid touching the patient's immediate surroundings to prevent surface contamination
- Wash/sanitize hands immediately after removing gloves
Ventyv® brand medical gloves offer the quality and protection needed. Sri Trang USA provides a complete range of Ventyv® disposable medical gloves tailored to meet various patient care requirements. As a leading global glove manufacturer, we deliver consistent, high-quality products to safeguard both wearers and patients. Ventyv® products help reduce HAIs, contributing to saving lives daily. Let's work together to Outsmart Infection®.
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Orthopedic External Fixator
Orthopedic external fixation system
The screw orthopedic is inserted into the bone near the fracture, and the fracture is fixed with an external fixator assembled by a chuck and a nail rod.
Indications
open fracture, nonunion, closed fracture with extensive soft tissue injury, fracture with multiple trauma, osteotomy and correction.
The use of orthopaedic external fixators is currently a superior fracture fixation technique, filling the gap between cast and internal fixation. At the same time, orthopedic external fixator has the characteristics of simple fixation method, stable, reliable and effective, and does not limit the joint movement, can be early ambulation advantages. It can reduce the time for the operator and is more friendly to the user. The external fixator was used together with the bone traction needle. In terms of the classification of orthopedic external fixators, it is mainly divided into four types: orthofix type external fixation, ilizarov type external fixation, ao synthes type external fixation,combined external fixator and common external fixators.
The external fixators in orthopaedics was used for reduction (shortening and overlapping displacement were corrected first, then lateral and angular displacement were corrected, and finally rotational and separation displacement were corrected; If closed reduction is difficult, open reduction can be considered, but the separation of soft tissue and peeling of periosteum should be minimized.
The selection of the insertion site.According to the anatomical characteristics of the soft tissue at the insertion plane, the important nerves, vessels and tendons should be avoided; The ideal entry point is the part of the bone close to the subcutaneous, in a word, generally choose the skin and bone between the muscle soft tissue is the weakest point into the needle. The installation shall facilitate observation and control of soft tissue damage, and permit any surgery that may be required, such as repair and reconstruction, dressing change, skin grafting, or bone grafting." According to the location of the bone, different diameters of the threaded needle were selected. Removal was performed after completion of late treatment.
Orthopedic External Fixator,Orthopedic Fixator,External Fixation,External Fixator
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