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Break the chain of infection. Practice hand hygiene

Did you know that 35 to 40 percent of infections could have been prevented by simply observing hand hygiene? It was one of the take-away messages at a recent media conference held announcing the nationwide search for the Philippines first Hospital Best Practices in Infection Prevention and Control awards. Led by the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), in collaboration with United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB) and the Philippine Hospital Infection Control Society (PHICS, Inc.), the search aims to highlight the level of excellence being practiced by public and private hospitals in the country.

Our objective is to elevate every hospitals awareness level on the importance of infection control and prevention of healthcare associated infections. To ensure that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are properly implementing infection prevention and control practices in their respective institutions. And, to encourage every hospital to maintain the highest standards in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections, says PHA president Dr. Ruben Flores.

He adds, Many hospitals in the Philippines have set the bar of excellence in hospital care, particularly in the area of infection prevention and control, which, as any healthcare professional would know, are the two key elements to delivering the highest level of quality service and safety to patients.

10 OUT OF 100

Infections acquired in the healthcare setting are quite common, albeit alarming. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of every 100 hospitalized patients at any given time, 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI).

PHICS founder Dr. Melencia Velmonte elaborates, When we say HAI, it is all encompassing. It does not single out hospitals but includes same-day surgical centers, ambulatory outpatient care in health care clinics, and long-term facilities. It includes the smallest unit where one delivers healthcare.

Among the common HAI has been identified as catheter-related urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, blood stream infection, and pneumonia.

That is why there are five crucial moments where hand hygiene should be properly observed. These are before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after contact with patient surroundings, enumerates Dr. Velmonte.

She continues, The first two moments are to protect the patient against harmful germs carried by your hands, including the patients own germs entering his or her body. The succeeding moments are to protect yourself and the healthcare environment from harmful patient germs.

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The answer is in your hands