Healthcare

It goes without saying that patient safety is the number one priority for your healthcare facility, especially with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) becoming increasingly common. Another principal concern is ensuring clean, hygienic environments for your medical staff, food service crew, maintenance workers and visitors. And on top of this, you’re also supposed to find ways of reducing your facility's environmental impact.

We know you've got your fair share of challenges, but you also have practical Georgia-Pacific solutions ready to meet your needs, with more innovations in the pipeline. Our hands-free, one-at-a-time towel dispensing solutions minimize cross-contamination and the spread of infection, while reducing usage and waste. Our quality soaps and hand sanitizers are ideal for frequent hand washing and maintaining hygiene. Our healthcare disposable towels and wash cloths provide a soft touch for patient care and a hygienic alternative for cleaning surfaces.

As important as hygiene and compliance are, they are only part of the story. We know that healthcare competition is growing and a positive image matters. You can count on Georgia-Pacific for products that are innovative, environmentally responsible and enhance the healthcare experience.

Preventing the spread of infection in healthcare facilities

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million infections are acquired during a stay at a healthcare facility each year in the US, with approximately 99,000 associated deaths. These HAIs account for around 5-10% of all hospitalizations and, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, add almost $20 billion to healthcare costs each year.

HAIs are transmitted in healthcare facilities through a number of routes. To combat HAIs, hospitals have implemented infection control programs with guidance from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. These programs establish guidelines that hospital personnel should follow to prevent or control the spread of infection.

Hand hygiene is the most important and least expensive measure to prevent transmission of HAIs, but adherence to proper hand hygiene practices by healthcare workers stands at only around 40%. Listed below are some of the reasons why:

Heavy workloads
Hand irritation
Poorly located sinks
Lack of soap, paper towels
Hands don't look dirty

Source: CDC/WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Healthcare

Critical elements in preventing the spread of infection:
Remind co-workers to wash and dry hands regularly.
Change gloves as necessary and wash and dry hands before and after.
Disinfect equipment touched with gloves or hands.
Use proper techniques for specimen collection.
Use touchless systems that eliminate common contact surfaces.
Use disposables such as personal wash cloths and towels.

The simple act of hand hygiene reduces infection risk more than any other practice.

Healthful hint:

To reduce the risk of cross-contamination from touching door knobs or faucet handles, use paper towels after hands are dried to open doors or turn off water taps if touchless systems are unavailable.

CDC/HICPAC. Draft Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. John M. Boyce, MD: Didier Pittet, MD, MS; HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA 2001. Hand Hygiene Task Force; and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee.

APIC infection control tips on hand washing

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is a multidisciplinary (nurses, epidemiologists, physicians, etc) voluntary international organization. APIC's purpose is to influence, support and improve the quality of healthcare through the practice and management of infection control and application of epidemiology (study of disease in the population) in all healthcare settings. APIC is committed to enhancing patient care, preventing adverse outcomes and minimizing occupational hazards associated with the delivery of healthcare.

Hand washing is the single most important procedure for preventing HAIs.
Just from contact with body fluids, healthcare workers' hands can carry bacteria, viruses and fungi, which may be potentially infectious to themselves and others.
Hand washing is recommended when there is prolonged or close contact with any patient.
Hand washing is necessary before and after situations where hands are likely to become contaminated, especially when they come into contact with mucous membranes, blood and body fluids, and secretions or excretions, and after touching contaminated items such as urine-measuring devices.
As a general rule, when in doubt, healthcare workers should wash and dry their hands.
The generally accepted correct hand washing time and method is a 15-second(previously 20-second?) vigorous rub of all lathered surfaces, followed by rinsing in a flowing stream of water. If hands are visibly soiled, more time may be required.
The choice of plain or antiseptic soap or alcohol-based hand rinses should depend on whether it’s important to reduce and maintain minimal counts of colonizing flora, or mechanically remove the contaminating flora. Consult your infection control department if you have any doubts as to whether you should use an antimicrobial soap.
Even if gloves are worn, hand washing is still extremely important when gloves are removed. Gloves may become perforated and bacteria can multiply rapidly on gloved hands.

Source: APIC Infection Control Tips on Hand Washing, 2005