I had to post this one. I was watching GOOD MORNING AMERICA. After The interview with Brad Pitt, they started talking about hospital infections. It was very interesting.
My only problem, they did not mention that alot of these "super bugs" are the result of the misuse of antibiotics by the public
Many Americans may not realize it, but some hospitals in the United States are rampant with infection-causing bacteria. According to some experts, more than 100,000 people die every year from infections contracted in hospitals.
This morning, Betsy McCaughey, founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, appeared on "Good Morning America" to talk to viewers about how they can protect themselves from contracting infections in hospitals. Some of her tips include:
* Don't be afraid to ask the doctor to wash his or her hands and clean stethoscope or other equipment with alcohol.
* At least a week before surgery, start using an antibacterial soap and don't shave, which can cause nicks and cuts for bacteria to enter.
* Ask your doctor about taking pre-surgery antibiotics.
* Limit the number of people in the operating room.
* Try to avoid the use of a urinary catheter if possible -- they are a commom infection entry point.
If you'd like more information, go to hospitalinfectionrates.org.
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
Actually I recently read in a nursing journal that the pre-op shave will soon become a thing of the past. Instead, clipping is recommended to avoid the skin breaks that this woman mentioned. The article in RN; Reduce surgical infection: A step-by-step guide. May 2005. Vol. 68, No.5, pgs 32-33, also talked about the perioperative abx.
:)
Yes, we use clippers, never razors at our hospital.
Boy, I'm sure she's done quite a bit of research, but did they mention on the show that she has a Dr of PHILOSOPHY? Or did they just call her Dr? No medical or health related education that I can see.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Before surgery, yes, Begalli. Immediately before. NOT ABX you take at home. They did not make that distinction, did they? I have not heard of , or participated in, a surgery where pre-op ABX and scrub were not used. Have you?
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
If someone's gonna cut me inside a hospital, I want abxs before, if indicated a wash before closure, and then after for sure.
On most, if not all pre-op pts we give a gram of cefazolin on the way to OR. Everybody is on something post-op for a few days. I think a nice big dose just prior to OR is much better than for several days before - allowing some bacteria to become resistant. I don't really know that much though, my degree is just in nursing science- not philosophy.:rotfl:
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On most, if not all pre-op pts we give a gram of cefazolin on the way to OR. Everybody is on something post-op for a few days. I think a nice big dose just prior to OR is much better than for several days before - allowing some bacteria to become resistant. I don't really know that much though, my degree is just in nursing science- not philosophy.:rotfl:
that is what I was trying to say, myself. I agree.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
The only time I can think of where several days worth of Abx is used before surgery is the bad teeth + bad valve combo.
very true. But those are special cases. the general public does not need, nor would benefit from, at-home ABX prior to surgery, as a rule. Look at all the noncompliance already that exists.
Before surgery, yes, Begalli. Immediately before. NOT ABX you take at home. They did not make that distinction. I have not heard of , or participated in, a surgery where pre-op ABX and scrub were not used.
Are you sure she wasn't talking about washing with the antibacterial soap for a week pre-op?
I can't imagine that she actually said to take abxs for a week pre-op. I think she specifically stated one hour before surgery.
Just going by memory from what I saw on tv this am.
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
* Don't be afraid to ask the doctor to wash his or her hands and clean stethoscope or other equipment with alcohol.
* At least a week before surgery, start using an antibacterial soap and don't shave, which can cause nicks and cuts for bacteria to enter.
* Ask your doctor about taking pre-surgery antibiotics.
* Limit the number of people in the operating room.
* Try to avoid the use of a urinary catheter if possible -- they are a commom infection entry point.
]
Wouldn't that be funny if people started asking their doctor "Now, YOU are going to be taking pre-surgery abx before you operate on me, right?" "Some doctor on GMA said it was a good idea."
I strongly disagree with the use of antibacterial soap for several days before surgery. I disagree with the use of that stuff in general. (The immediate pre-op scrub is different.) Between that and public misuse of abx no wonder everybody's sick all the time, and the bacteria are getting harder to kill. It's just easier to blame it on nurses and hospitals, though.
I have been hearing a lot about candida turning into a nasty superbug. Seems it is causing all sorts of problems that are often overlooked until a crisis develops. Anybody else getting this information?
What she said about the pre-op abx was "pre-op abx is a standard of care and it is often overlooked by hospital staff".....that may be an exact quote.....not sure if word for word but she did make that statement.....I remember b/c that bothered me some, also.
pricklypear
1,060 Posts
Yes, we use clippers, never razors at our hospital.
Boy, I'm sure she's done quite a bit of research, but did they mention on the show that she has a Dr of PHILOSOPHY? Or did they just call her Dr? No medical or health related education that I can see.