Image of pills

Super Bugs and Super You!

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Identifying at least 20% of hospitalized patients who carry Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) – drug resistant bacteria that can lead to a dangerous healthcare-associated infection, could help prevent the spread of the organism, according to an AHRQ funded study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Researchers developed a computer model to understand the impact of detecting an increasing number of carriers of CRE in adult inpatient healthcare facilities in Orange County, California. They determined that detecting one out of every five carriers of CRE and using contact precautions during care of the identified carriers would be sufficient to significantly reduce the spread of the bacteria in a large population. Researchers also noted that eliminating all CRE carriage would be ideal but is not feasible. Access the abstract here.

So what does this mean to you? It should definitely get your attention! At a minimum, appropriate precautions implemented consistently have proven to assist in preventing the spread of infection! HealthCap’s Resource and Education Center has resources for you as well! On our Direct Care link, you will find competency checklists related to infection control and prevention. Remember, competency isn’t what we learn in the classroom but how we implement it during resident care. Please access these valuable checklists on our website and enjoy better outcomes for your residents!