Hygiene Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Hygiene and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals Joint Commission adopted national patient safety goals for healthcare organizations, including specific goals for laboratories. 2009 Laboratory Services National Patient Safety Goals These goals are directly quoted. | View Page |
| Treatment of CDI/CDAD The first step in treating patients with CDAD is to discontinue the causative agent wherever possible. The choice for initial antibiotic therapy depends on the severity of disease. Oral vancomycin or metronidazole remain the mainstays of therapy for C. difficile infection, with vancomycin reserved for patients with more severe disease and/or those who have not responded to metronidazole. Metronidazole is currently favored in guidelines from the CDC on the basis of cost and concern that oral vancomycin promotes colonization with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Oral fluids (water and electrolytes) may be necessary to counteract fluid loss as a result of excessive diarrhea, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Patients with fulminant disease and toxic megacolon may require colectomy. Recurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) is becoming an increasing problem. Most recurrences happen 7 - 14 days after completion of therapy, suggesting relapse rather than re-infection. If a patient develops a second episode of CDI following initial successful treatment, it is recommended that if possible, the same drug be used to treat the second episode. Contributing factors to recurrent CDI include: Continuing exposure to organisms either through re-infection (via contaminated environment or poor hand hygiene) or an endogenous source, such as C. difficile spores in GI tract. An inability to mount an adequate anti-Toxin A IgM and/or IgG antibody response (i.e., poor host immune response); a likely reason why CDI affects an increasingly elderly population. Unfortunately a vicious cycle can arise whereby the initial treatment prescribed, vancomycin or metronidazole, significally disrupts normal colonic flora reducing colonization resistance and leaving the patient vulnerable to the next recurrent episode.Other treatments including the use of probiotics or anion-exchange resins to absorb toxins, may work in some cases but none work in every case.The goal of all treatment is to reestablish normal colonic flora so as to control C. difficile (over)growth. | View Page |
| Importance of Hand Hygiene Frequent handwashing is one of the most important measures that you can take to help control the spread of infections. Hands should be washed:As soon as gloves are removed Before and after direct patient contact After using the toilet Before eating or drinking Anytime hands are contaminated Before leaving the work area | View Page |
| Gloves Disposable gloves must be worn whenever there is a risk of contact with blood or other body fluids. Hypoallergenic gloves must be used if you, or the patient you are caring for, has a latex allergy. Keep hand jewelry to a minimum to protect the integrity of the gloves.Replace gloves: Between patient contacts If they are damaged or contaminated Before leaving the work area Cleanse hands after removing gloves. Disposable gloves cannot be washed.Utility gloves or heavy-duty rubber gloves are useful when cleaning up spills or when there is a risk of damage from equipment handling.Utility gloves may be decontaminated and reused if their integrity has not been compromised. They should be inspected regularly, and must be replaced if damaged. | View Page |
