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Lapses noted at infection control in ambulatory surgical centers
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Almost 70 ambulatory surgical centers in three states had lapses in infection control, according to recent study results.
Melissa K. Shaefer, MD, of the CDC, and colleagues investigated the cleanliness of surgical centers in Maryland, North Carolina and Oklahoma during a four-month period in 2008.
Schaefer’s team used an audit tool developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to determine how each center complied with infection control procedures for hand hygiene, injection safety, medication handling, equipment reprocessing, environmental cleaning and handling of blood glucose monitoring equipment.
The researchers tested 68 facilities between June and October 2008. Results indicated that 46 facilities had at least one lapse in infection control and 12 facilities had lapses identified in three or more of the five infection control categories.
Most lapses occurred during the administration of single-dose medication vials for more than one patient, failure to adhere to recommended practices regarding reprocessing of equipment and handling of blood glucose monitoring equipment.
The researchers concluded that although the inspection process played an important role in assessing and improving infection control practices, the ambulatory surgical centers should take a proactive role. The CMS have posted their infection control audit tool online. They ask for facilities to review the tool and ensure that the policies are reflected throughout the surgical center’s staff.
Schaefer MK. JAMA. 2010; 303:2295-2297