Studycentre

A recent Australian study says that some hospital superbugs are growing increasingly tolerant to alcohol-based disinfectants found in hand washes and sanitizers.

There has been a rise in a kind of bacteria that lives in the gut, called Enterococcus faecium which can spread via catheters, ventilators or central lines in a health care setting. Drug-resistant E faecium infections currently represent a leading cause of infections acquired in hospitals.

Enterococci account for about 1 in 10 cases of hospital-acquired bacterial infections around the world. Prolonged and inappropriate use of invasive devices and antibiotics, immunosuppression and other severe underlying patient conditions, failure to adhere to standard and isolation precautions are some factors that increase the risk of infection in health-care settings. Another source of pathogens is hospital waste. Here are a few hygiene tips:

• Practice hand hygiene.
• Use personal protective equipment appropriately according to risk of body fluid exposure.
• Reprocess re-useable instruments and equipment as appropriate.
• Handle and dispose sharp and potentially infectious material safely.
• Handle waste and linen with care.
• Put environmental control measures including cleaning and spills management in place.