Is closure of entire wards necessary to control norovirus outbreaks in hospital?

Source: Journal of Hospital Infection, volume 79, issue 1, pages 32-37

For full text link here [NHS Athens account required]

Date of publication: Sept 2011

In a nutshell: Research examining outcomes of the introduction of a new strategy for combatting a norovirus outbreak in hospital. The closure of affected ward bays instead of entire wards, along with the introduction of new cleaning procedures and testing, supported by a bigger infection control team, are described. The impact of this strategy was measured by comparing the severity of norovirus outbreaks in 2007-08 and 2009-10, before and after its introduction, including number of patients and staff affected and how well the outbreak was contained within the hospital.

Length of publication: 6 pages

Press reporting of the ‘dirty hospital’

Source: Journal of Hospital Infection, vol. 75 issue 4, pages 318-22

For abstract link here

Date of publication: August 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Investigates UK press coverage of MRSA infection, focusing on how writers linked infection to standards of hospital cleanliness. Items in national newspapers, BMJ and Lancet 2000-2007 were examined to identify their sources of information and their bias towards reporting MRSA as a hygiene problem related to poor cleanliness.  Interviews with journalists about their understanding of MRSA were also conducted.

Length of publication: 5 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library for the full text of this article.

Acknowledgement: British Nursing Index (BNI)

Revolutionary dressing that can detect and treat infections

Source: University of Bath

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: News story

In a nutshell: Academics from The University of Bath are working alongside the burns team from the Southwest UK Paediatric Burns Centre at Frenchay Hospital on the £3.7m EC-funded Bacteriosafe project.  The project aims to create a revolutionary dressing that works by releasing antibiotics from nanocapsules when disease-causing pathogenic bacteria are present.  It is hoped that the dressing will be developed in a way that will cause it to change colour when an infection is present.

Length of publication: Web page

Acknowledgment: NursingTimes.net

Specially designed lockers reduce infection risk

Source: Nursing Times

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: May 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust is piloting the use of specially designed bedside lockers as an additional infection control measure. The lockers have smooth surfaces, removable drawers and no crevices or joins, to facilitate thorough cleaning. The lockers also include a shelf to allow staff to write on notes at the bedside and additional storage space for medicines.

Length of publication: Web page

Clean Hands for Life: results of a large, multicentre, multifaceted, social marketing hand-hygiene campaign

Title: Clean Hands for Life: results of a large, multicentre, multifaceted, social marketing hand-hygiene campaign

Source: Journal of Hospital Infection 74(3) 225-231

Date of publication: March 2010

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: campaign involved rotation of ten novel posters, two poster contests, and distribution of multiple promotional items. A social marketing approach was used to implement and monitor the effectiveness of the campaign. Evaluation included quality assurance surveys, staff surveys (baseline, mid- and post-campaign), and focus groups. The results showed that social marketing is an effective approach in engaging Health Care Workers (HCWs). Hand-hygiene campaigns that focus almost exclusively on increasing awareness among HCWs may not be as successful as multifaceted campaigns or campaigns that target identified barriers to hand-hygiene.

Length of publication: 6p.

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article

Acknowledgement: CINAHL

Body art practices among inmates: implications for transmission of bloodborne infections

Title: Body art practices among inmates: implications for transmission of bloodborne infections

Source: American Journal of Infection Control 38(2) 121-129.

Date of publication: March 2010

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Unsterile body art practices among inmates in prison have been implicated in the transmission of bloodborne viruses. This article identifies both risk factors and identifies strategies to reduce the transmission of bloodborne viruses.

Length of publication: 8p.

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article.

Acknowledgement: CINAHL

Clostridium difficile infection: a critical analysis of the guidance

Source: British Journal of Nursing 18 (21) pp.1328-32

Follow this link for Full Text (NHS Athens username and password required)

Date of Publication: November 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a Nutshell: Looks at implementation of the report Clostridium Difficile Infection: How to deal with the problem.  Identifies that while it puts in place a structure for clinical governance it pays scant regard to the financial implications of implementation.  The article highlights the reports limitations in an acute setting.

Length of publication: 5 pages

Max4Health Hand Hygiene Evaluation Report

Source: Clean, Safe Care

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: 23rd October 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: An evaluation of a Max4Health Hand Hygiene Campaign undertaken at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, based around a cartoon character called ‘Max’. The nine week campaign included graphics on transport vehicles, storybooks for children, mouse mats and personal items for distribution to staff. The report offers advice to other organisations considering using the campaign.

Length of publication: 18 pages

Implementing the new NHS Cleaning Manual: Vicki Finlay, NPSA interview

Title: Implementing the new NHS Cleaning Manual: Vicki Finlay, NPSA interview

Source: Focused FM TV

Follow this link to Video

Date of publication: 21/09/09

Publication type: Audiovisual

In a nutshell: Interview with Vicki Finlay, Healthcare Cleanliness Lead at the NPSA advises on what the changes made by the introduction of The Revised Healthcare Cleaning Manual mean for trusts and how best they can implement the new guidance to drive improvements in cleanliness.

Length of publication: 05.30 minutes

Some important Notes: Site requires free registration.

Revised Healthcare Cleaning Manual

Title: The Revised Health Care Cleaning Manual

Source: National Patient Safety Agency

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: June 2009

Publication type: Practice Guidelines

In a nutshell: Revised Healthcare Cleaning Manual detailing new guidance to drive improvements in cleanliness across different healthcare settings, including acute care, mental health care, primary care and the ambulance service.  It provides a new, improved collection of cleaning method statements as well as new advice on the use of emerging cleaning technologies.

Length of publication: 174p.

Engaging the nursing workforce: an evidence-based tool kit

Title: Engaging the nursing workforce: an evidence-based tool kit

Source: Nursing Administration Quarterly, 33 (3) pp.238-244

Publication type: Journal Article

Date of publication: 2009

In a Nutshell: Discusses the development and implementation of an evidence-based practice guideline for improving hand hygiene and application of that guideline in an academic medical center setting. Concludes organizational culture can be changed utilizing an evidence-based, organization-specific approach to hand hygiene.

Length of publication: 6p.

Some Important Notes: Ask your health librarian to get hold of this for you.

Reducing MRSA rates in drug users

Source:  Nursing Times.net
Follow this link for fulltext
Date of publication: 4th August 2009
Publication type: Case Study
In a nutshell: The drugs specialist nursing team at Bristol Royal Infirmary aim to improve services for patients misusing drugs. In 2007 their role was extended to tackle infection control issues relating to patients who misused substances, after a hospital audit revealed a significant number of MRSA infections were entering the hospital via injecting drug users. The team of nurses also provide health promotion covering MRSA, hand hygiene, and avoiding infections while the patients are hospitalised. Between January and April 2007, 10 cases of MRSA bacteraemia in injecting drug users were recorded. Following the introduction of the infection control role, this went down to nine cases for January-December 2008. So far just one case of MRSA bacteraemia in an injecting drug user has been recorded in 2009.
Length of publication: Web page