Quarterly Infection Report
To help reduce infection rates the CDC recommends facilities conduct monthly surveillance for BSIs (positive blood cultures) and other dialysis events using CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Additionally they recommend calculating facility rates and comparing them to rates in other NHSN facilities. Please share the 2015 Q2 CDPHE Dialysis Infection Feedback Report with the front-line staff at your facility. It contains your most recent blood stream infection rates as well as local access site infection rates. If you are unable to recall your facility number it is listed on your home screen when you log into NHSN. State rates are improving!
CDC Adds New Infection Prevention Tools to Promote Dialysis Safety.
Patients who undergo hemodialysis have an increased risk of getting a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). To prevent HAIs, hemodialysis healthcare workers should understand and follow the basics of infection control as a routine part of their practice.CDC has released new infection prevention tools on injectable medication preparation and administration intended specifically for hemodialysis centers (see audit tool and checklist). These new tools expand the set of existing audit tools and checklists to help outpatient hemodialysis healthcare workers adhere to CDC-recommended practices. CDC also recently added tools on dialysis station routine disinfection.
Available prevention tools include:
- Hemodialysis Injection Safety: Medication Preparation and Administration Audit Tool/Checklist
- Hemodialysis Station Routine Disinfection Audit Tool, Checklist, and Notes for Clinical Managers
- Hemodialysis Hand Hygiene Audit Tool
- Hemodialysis Catheter Connection, Disconnection, and Exit Site Care Audit Tool and Checklists
- Arteriovenous Fistula & Graft Cannulation and Decannulation Audit Tool/Checklists
For more information on Injection Safety, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/injectionsafety/.
For further information, contact:
Karen Strott, RN
Dialysis Facilities Infection Preventionist
Disease Control & Environmental Epidemiology Division
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Dr. S.
Denver, CO 80246
phone: (303) 691-7840 fax: (303) 782-0338
email: karen.strott@state.co.us
