ABDEL EZBIRI argues that air disinfection has been overlooked in the past as an infection control measure. He believes that it has an important role to play in helping to further reduce the rates of HCAIs.
With healthcare-acquired infections (HCAI) dominating media headlines and hospital culture, it is hard to ignore the efforts of NHS Trusts to eliminate infection risks. As early as 1880, efforts were being made to curb the spread of infections, with hand-washing being introduced by Igmaz Semmelweis while he was working on gynaecology and maternity wards.1 Since then, alcohol gels and hand washing techniques have risen to the forefront of patients’, visitors’ and healthcare professionals’ minds. However, there is a risk that, we are putting ‘all our eggs in one basket’. Hand hygiene is very important, but other factors, which can also pose a significant infection risk, have been relatively ignored. During the American Civil War, ‘bad air’ was associated with diseases, and ‘fresh air’ considered to offer benefits, which was why field hospitals were well ventilated. In a modern hospital, everything that enters our bodies – from intravenous to subcutaneous procedures – is strictly regulated, yet the air that patients breathe and share with many other people, is not given the same level of treatment. With antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria growing more problematic, the old phrase and ideology of ‘prevention is better than cure’ is more important than ever. As our options to ‘cure’ are curtailed by antibiotic resistance, we need to ensure tighter control of the prevention of disease – specifically, stopping transmission.
The infection picture
Recent Health Protection Association (HPA) data indicates that MRSA cases have been reduced by 35% in the year 2009/10 to 1,898 cases.2 The number of C. difficile cases have reduced by 29%, from 36,095 in 2008/09 to 25,604 cases in 2009/10. HPA initiatives, such as mandatory surveillance of infections by each Trust, have provided a large set of good quality data to study HCAI. This has also helped estimate the costs of these HCAIs – the social and economic effects of sick leave add considerably to the direct cost to the NHS of extended stays in hospital. The cost of MRSA infections is estimated between £3 bn and £11 bn,3 with over 5,000 deaths a year resulting from these infections.
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
