Infection Prevention: Additional Infection Prevention Interventions
Presented by Lisa A. Gorski
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This course covers infection prevention in home care, focusing on additional prevention interventions.
This course provides home care and hospice clinicians with essential knowledge required to understand issues related to infection and infection prevention. Highlighting data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this third course in the Infection Prevention series examines the larger, critical patient care issue of antimicrobial resistance. The role that the home care clinician plays in antimicrobial stewardship is described and demonstrated through a case example. Additional infection prevention activities addressed by home care clinicians include the promotion of pediatric and adult vaccinations and adherence to aseptic technique while performing invasive procedures. The reality is that home care patients do develop infections, sometimes despite all best practices applied. Therefore, the home care clinician must recognize signs and symptoms of infection, including the life-threatening response to infection called sepsis. Patient and family education related to antimicrobial resistance, vaccinations, and recognizing infection and sepsis are integrated throughout this course.
Meet your instructor
Lisa A. Gorski
Lisa A. Gorski has worked for 40 years as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and educator for Wheaton Franciscan Home Health & Hospice, now part of Ascension at Home, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a CNS, she has played a key role in the home infusion therapy program, contributing to clinician education, policy and procedure…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. The Big Picture: Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Stewardship
Improving the use of antibiotics is a critical patient safety issue, as exposure to antibiotics is associated with adverse reactions, alterations of the patient’s bacterial population, and antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance leads to higher mortality rates, increased length of hospital stays, and higher cost of treatment. In the chapter, the problem of antimicrobial resistance is explored, including specific urgent, serious, and concerning antimicrobial resistance threats. Clostridium difficile infections, including risk factors, transmission, and patient education, are highlighted in this chapter.
2. Antimicrobial Stewardship and the Home Care Clinician
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify four core actions aimed at the prevention of antimicrobial resistance: infection prevention activities, the identification and tracking of infections, antimicrobial stewardship, and the development of new drugs and diagnostics. In the chapter, the focus is on the role of antimicrobial stewardship by the home care clinician. A case example is used to demonstrate the clinician’s role.
3. Additional Infection Prevention Strategies: Vaccination and Aseptic Technique
Both pediatric and adult vaccinations are critically important components of infection prevention. The role of the home care clinician is highlighted through the example of influenza vaccination. Because the provision of invasive procedures such as infusion administration, wound care, and urinary catheter management is common in home care, aseptic technique is essential to infection prevention. This concept is defined and explored through the internationally recognized framework of Aseptic Non Touch Technique. Setting up for common procedures is demonstrated in this chapter.
4. Infections and Sepsis: Recognition and Actions
While this series of presentations has focused on prevention of infections, the reality is that infections in home care patients do occur, and signs and symptoms must be recognized. Furthermore, home care patients may be at risk for the life-threatening complication of sepsis. Many home care patients are at increased risk for sepsis, and 85% of sepsis cases happen in the community. Sepsis is a medical emergency, and home care clinicians must recognize its presentation and act appropriately. This chapter includes a case example to demonstrate an at-risk patient.
