Concern about Infection Control

[mommyrn]

I'd like to ask a question of you experienced nurses out there. Last semester in clinicals I was asked to collect a stool sample for a patient I had been assigned to. It was my first rotation and only the second patient I had. Anyway, I took the proper precaution -- wore the gloves, handwashing, etc., and collected the sample. Two weeks later, when I was assigned to this patient again, I found that she had been placed in contact precautions because she had C-Diff (that's what I was collecting the sample for.) I was outraged that i was not told of this because there are of course extra precautions to take when dealing with something like this. (C-Diff is extremely contagious). In any case, being that I have two small children at home, my worst fear is picking something up and bringing it home to my kids. I am concerned with the fact that you don't always know what you are walking into and it's a very vulnerable position to be in as a nurse. I am wondering if you other nurses share my fear, and how do you handle it? Thanks so much!

[adrienurse, LPN]

Practice basic universal precautions all the time, and you should be okay. Next time you are asked to collect a sample, find out why first, then there will be no surpizes. Always ask why you are doing something before you do it -- this is a good policy to have.

P.S. I like to sing the oscar meyer weiner song when I wash my hands.

[prmenrs, RN]

The name of the game is Body Substance Isolation, aka Universal Precautions. This boils down to one thing: if it's wet and it's not yours, you need gloves. If it's wet, and the pt. is projecting it (use your imagination), everything that might come in contact w/it should be covered w/an impervious surface.

See if you can have a Nurse Epidemiologist come and guest lecture your class. Than you can ask all the "but what if?" questions you need to and get answers that are evidence based, not "tradition", or "just in case". It's always better to know EXACTLY why you're doing what you're doing in practice.

---former Infection Control Nurse

[boggle, ASN, RN]

:chuckle

SO WELL SAID, PRMENRS!!!!!!

Thanks!!

[disher]

I don't understand why you were outraged, when an order is made to obtain a specimen for C&S it is understood the patient potentially has an infection of some sort. The only way to know what the infection is, is to wait for the results.

By the way, some patients with bowel disorders such as Crohns or colitis are more prone then the general population to c.diff. and this does not pose any greater threat to their children contracting c.diff. as long as proper hygeine is maintained.