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Oct. 19-25 slated as National Infection Prevention Week

October 17, 2008

Gov. Steve Beshear issued a proclamation recognizing the week of Oct. 19-25 as International Infection Prevention Week. The theme of this year's initiative is "Infection Prevention is Everyone's Business."

As the infection control nurse at Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, Mary Lou Lynn is on the alert for the presence of infections and ways to prevent them. She feels that this is a wonderful opportunity to spread the important message of infection prevention to our community. All of you have heard of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is in the news frequently and it is a serious health concern for all of us.

MRSA can be caused by a break in the skin, any injury, poor health, and using or sharing dirty items. MRSA can spread among people having close contact with people who already have MRSA. It is spread by direct physical contact such as touching MRSA contaminated objects (sheets, clothes, towels, dirty dressings, workout areas, and sports equipment).

There are some simple measures that we can all take to help prevent the spread of MRSA and other infections. Provided, with permission from APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology), information that is simple but very important in helping everyone remain healthy and infection free.

Practice good hygiene:

â?¢ Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and water.

â?¢ Use alcohol hand gel when soap and water are not available, providing there is no soiling.

â?¢ Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a dressing.

â?¢ Avoid touching the wounds of other people.

â?¢ Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.

â?¢ Do NOT share your towels or other personal items with others.

For athletes and coaches:

â?¢ Cover all wounds. If a wound cannot be covered adequately, consider excluding players with potentially infectious skin lesions from practice or competitions until the lesions are healed or can be covered adequately.

â?¢ Encourage good hygiene, including showering and washing with soap after all practices and competitions.

â?¢ Ensure availability of adequate soap and water.

â?¢ Discourage sharing of towels and personal items (clothing and equipment).

â?¢ Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared equipment.

â?¢ Train athletes and coaches in first aid for wounds and recognition of wounds that are potentially infected.

â?¢ Encourage coaches to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions.

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