Testing Times
In January 2008 the US FDA formally approved the very first blood test that can accurately indicate MRSA and other drug-resistant staph infections in patients. The news, welcomed by the healthcare profession, is the latest in a series of innovations to help facilities detect and control the spread of the superbug. Steven Gutman, director of the FDA's office of in vitro diagnostics and Dr Mark Enright, of Imperial College London offer their thoughts.
The Silent Killer
The issue of HCAIs is something that has attracted much media attention in recent months. But many outlets focus their attention on MRSA despite there being a plethora of other, sometimes more dangerous, bugs stalking healthcare facilities. Has it been irresponsible to focus on the headline-grabbing infections and how dangerous are the others?
Protection from Within
While the use of catheters is growing as a result of the obvious benefits, statistics show that as many as one in ten patients will develop and infection as a result. A research team at Queen's University in Belfast are working on a revolutionary device that they say will self clean once an infection takes hold. Dr Gavin Andrews explains the team's work and what it might mean for patients and healthcare providers.
One Size Fits All?
In many cases people relate sharps injuries to that of a needlestick. However, the healthcare setting is amass with dangers from sharps that many don't immediately consider, such as scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, exposed ends of dental wires and diagnostic razors. With so many challenges, is it ever possible to implement one robust practice?
Sharp Thinking
Sharps incidents occur daily and for a myriad of reasons. However, as important as it is provide the safest working environment, when they do it is just as crucial to support staff through the following days and weeks. A concoction of drugs is often needed to be taken as well as, in some cases, extensive counselling. This special report focuses on the steps taken by employers to ensure that staff can carry on with as little disruption to their lives as possible while still understanding that
the emotional stress needs to be managed.
Wound Bed Management
Wound bed preparation is something that has emerged as being a key factor in the delivery of care / treatment and for the recovery of chronic wounds. Additionally, as a result of meetings involving some of the world's leading wound care specialists a few years ago the 'TIME' framework was devised to offer a systematic approach to the management of wounds. While the concept of 'TIME' is now a few years on, where are the principles now and the products that assist with this
effort? Jackie Stephen-Haynes, a consultant nurse and senior lecturer in Tissue Viability Worcestershire Primary Care Trusts and University of Worcester, investigates.
Pressure Relief Management
The market for wound pressure relief devices is one that grows and advances continually as new technologies and methods are developed. With such a large market and so many variants worldwide it is difficult to know exactly what devices are available and what their benefits are. This special report by Frost & Sullivan investigates the global market and asks where it might be in years to come.
Removing the Need
In the US alone an estimated 60,000 diabetes sufferers lose a lower limb each year because of infection through sores or ulcers. But new treatments are offering some hope to patients often unaware of alternatives to amputation. Dr Alexander M Rayzelman, a certified podiatrist, takes a look at the latest treatment methods which include bioengineered skin repair, growth-factor therapy and shock-wave therapy which is currently under clinical trials.
Legislative Pressures
In October 2008 new US Medicare legislation means hospital-acquired pressure ulcers will no longer be covered as part of a claimants' medical insurance. The move means that healthcare providers are now looking at every possible way of preventing them. Dr. Mona Baharestani, associate professor at ETSU and wound care specialist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, discusses the changes and what they might mean for day-to-day care giving.
Directions for Use
Combining or mixing drugs is something that should only be done on the advice of a medical practitioner. However, while the profession fully appreciates this fact, many patients don't and a growing number of deaths can be attributed to this lack of knowledge. Erin Johnson, programme manager of the prescription pain medication programme for the Utah Department of Health talks of their ongoing study into drug combination mix ups and the ways in which providers can help patients better
understand the risks.
Who's Who?
Patient identification is a matter of context-dependent "suitably constrained guesswork" according to one speaker at a recent conference. They argued that while there were tools available to help protect patients it was in many cases done on an "informal basis". What are those tools and how are they utilised in the healthcare setting? Dr Peter Pronovost, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital's Center for Innovation in Patient Care and national leader
of the Josie King Foundation investigates.
