Professional Disposables International, Inc., the leader in infection prevention products and clinical support, has provided the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology with an unrestricted educational grant to develop a new elimination guide specifically targeting hemodialysis settings that offers recommendations and best practices for environmental cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and vascular access/skin antisepsis as well as other Infection Prevention topics. According to the 2008 US Renal System Data, between 1993 and 2006, hospitalization rates for infections in hemodialysis patients rose by 34 percent, while rates for vascular access infections doubled in the same period. The Department of Health and Human Services has identified hemodialysis settings are a component of the plan’s next phase for reimbursement changes, as well as increased scrutiny. The 130-page elimination guide will be released to all members of APIC in June and to more than 3,000 dialysis clinics beginning in August.
“Vascular catheter-related infections, Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), specifically C-Difficile and MRSA, blood stream infections, are on the rise, which calls for more diligent efforts toward patient safety, hand hygiene, vascular access and environmental surface disinfection,” says Dr. Hudson Garrett, Director of Clinical Affairs. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with APIC on this exciting tool that is desperately needed for end user clinicians in hemodialysis settings. With Phase Two and Three of the Health and Human Services Action Plan being developed, which will target additional outpatient settings such as hemodialysis, the importance of basic infection prevention and control practices is critically important.”
PDI maintains a complete portfolio of infection prevention products, resources and clinical support staff to meet the evolving needs of multiple sectors of the healthcare industry. For additional resources on infection prevention strategies for the hemodialysis setting please visit www.pdipdi.com.