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This year, several Minnesota hospitals have begun tracking and reporting antibiotic use data using the Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module, a component of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
We applaud the efforts of Fairview Health Services, Essentia Health, Allina Health, and Hennepin Healthcare, Minnesota's most recent adopters.
In addition to promoting the safety of their own patients, hospitals reporting their antimicrobial use are making a contribution to public health efforts.
If you are interested in learning more about NHSN antibiotic use reporting or exploring use within your hospital, please contact us at health.stewardship@state.mn.us.
Members of the Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative (MOHASC) will be at the 2019 State Fair each day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to discuss the problem of antibiotic resistance, how antibiotic stewardship can make an impact, and what everyone can do to combat resistance.
Find us in the Eco Experience Building, learn more about our unique Stewardship Collaborative, and participate in our stewardship pledge!
On Thursday, August 22, at 10 a.m., a panel of MOHASC members will discuss antibiotic resistance and stewardship on the Eco Experience Sustainability Stage.
The Minnesota State Fair runs from August 22 to September 2, 2019.
Are you part of, or do you know a health care team that is doing great work to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections or combat antibiotic resistance? If so, the Collaborative Healthcare-Associated Infection Network (CHAIN) would like to hear about it and recognize the excellent work being done!
The 2019 CHAIN Award for Excellence commends infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship efforts of health care teams working hard to build a safer health care environment.
If your facility uses tonometers, YAG laser lens, eye specula, or similar ophthalmic devices, please read the following information. Take appropriate steps to ensure adequate reprocessing of ophthalmology equipment.
CDC notified state health departments that The Joint Commission has identified inadequate reprocessing of ophthalmology equipment on a number of recent health care facility inspections. The Joint Commission released the following bulletin in May 2019, highlighting the issues with tonometers and other types of ophthalmic equipment.
Quick Safety: Disinfection of tonometers and other ophthalmology devices
Devices that contact mucous membranes, like the eye, or non-intact skin are considered semi-critical and require high-level disinfection or sterilization. Devices that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system, such as surgical equipment, are considered critical and require sterilization. These practices are detailed in the HICPAC Disinfection and Sterilization Guidelines.
Reprocessing instructions for semi-critical devices should describe at least one method of cleaning and at least one method of high-level disinfection or sterilization. Identification of inadequate manufacturer device reprocessing instructions should be reported to FDA: Reporting Allegations of Regulatory Misconduct.
For questions or to report a possible infection control breach in reprocessing, please contact the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-5414 and request to speak to someone in the Healthcare-Associated Infections Section.
CDC is promoting participation in the World Health Organization’s 2019 WHO Global Survey on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Hand Hygiene. The survey is for acute care settings, and its objectives are two-fold: 1) to encourage and support local assessments of IPC and hand hygiene activities using standardized and validated tools, and 2) to gather situational analysis on the level of progress of current IPC and hand hygiene activities around the world. The results will inform future efforts and resource use improvement. Health care facilities that registered for WHO’s SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands may have already received a personal email invitation to participate.
Environmental services (EVS) personnel play a critical role in preventing the spread of germs and healthcare-associated infections. "EVS and the Battle Against Infection" is an interactive graphic novel illustrating the important role of EVS personnel in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. The online version of the training tool features real-world infection prevention and control scenarios and allows participants to choose options that affect the outcome of the story.
A PDF version of the graphic novel and several handouts are also available from CDC. Use these materials to:
- Encourage the use of the EVS training tool.
- Spark infection prevention and control (IPC) conversations among EVS personnel.
- Engage EVS personnel and promote IPC best practices.
CDC: EVS and the Battle Against Infection: a Graphic Novel
CDC/STRIVE Infection Control Training
CDC has released the first three of 11 new infection control training courses: Competency-based Training, Hand Hygiene, and Strategies for Preventing HAIs. These courses are part of the new States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement (STRIVE) curriculum intended for the infection prevention team, hospital leaders, clinical educators, nurse and physician managers, environmental services managers, all patient care staff, and patient/family advisors.
CDC/STRIVE Infection Control Training
The STRIVE curriculum was developed by national infection prevention experts led by the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) for CDC. It will include over 40 individual training modules grouped into 11 courses that focus on foundational and targeted infection prevention strategies. All courses are free and offer continuing education (CE). Additional courses will be launched over the summer.
Interactive Infection Control Training
CDC now offers a new online interactive infection control training to help health care professionals identify infection risks and prevent the spread of HAIs. The training provides free continuing education for health care professionals, including nurses, physician assistants, medical assistants, health educators, and other clinicians (0.1 CEU and 0.6 CNE).
The free, online training can be completed anywhere. It has two modules and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the entire training.
Let's Talk Patient Safety: Reducing HAI Transmission Risk
Module 1: "What's the Risk?"
This interactive module transports health care professionals into a scenario where they must identify infection risks and take action to protect patients, colleagues, and visitors.
Module 2: "Chain of Infection"
This story-based interactive module challenges professionals to break the chain of infection in a busy health care environment and educate them on the consequences of not following infection prevention and control recommendations.
Learn more: CDC Infection Prevention and Control Training for Healthcare Professionals
Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training
CDC, in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has launched an online Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training Course. This specialized nursing home training is designed for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in nursing homes.
The course is made up of 23 modules and submodules addressing a variety of topics, including an overview of the IPC program and the role of the infection preventionist, infection surveillance and outbreak management, antibiotic stewardship, and infection prevention practices, such as hand hygiene.
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