1© 2010 TMIT

NQF-Endorsed®

Safe Practices for Better Healthcare

Student Projects

Safe Practice 24Multidrug-Resistant Organism Prevention

2© 2010 TMIT

NQF Safe Practices: Brought to you by The Quality Choir

3© 2010 TMIT

Culture SP 1

2010 NQF Report

4© 2010 TMIT

Overview

Key Points:

Part I – Background: Definition of what we’re trying to prevent: Multidrug-

Resistant Organisms (MDROs) Why should you care about MDROs?

Part II – Barriers: What impedes prevention of MDROs in the healthcare

setting?

Part III – Strategies: How can students contribute to stopping the spread of

MDROs on a variety of levels?

Part IV – Resources: Tools for further education

5© 2010 TMIT

The Objective

Multidrug-Resistant Organism Prevention

• Prevent healthcare-associated multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs).

6© 2010 TMIT

Background

Safe Practice 24Multidrug-Resistant Organism Prevention

7© 2010 TMIT

Background

As health professions students, it is paramount that we be aware of these infections and how to prevent

their spread in order to save patient lives.

8© 2010 TMIT

The Problem

© Dr. John Sinnott

Increasing incidence

High mortality

High associated cost

9© 2010 TMIT

The Problem

Increasingly common sequelae of antibiotic therapy incidence

Toxin-mediated intestinal wall infection that can lead to toxic megacolon – frequently fatal

High mortality/cost

10© 2010 TMIT

Barriers to Solutions

Safe Practice 24Multidrug-Resistant Organism Prevention

11© 2010 TMIT

Barriers

1) Lack of understanding of the sequelae

and prevention of MDROs amongst

health professions students and hospital

staff

   

What hinders us as health professions students from preventing MDRO

infections?

© Joint Commission

12© 2010 TMIT

Barriers

2) Existence of hospital hierarchy creating

a lack of power/fear amongst health

professions students to engage in and

advocate for MDRO prevention

          

What hinders us as health professions students from preventing MDRO

infections?

© Joint Commission

13© 2010 TMIT

Strategies: Health Professions Students’ Implementation of Solutions

Safe Practice 24Multidrug-Resistant Organism Prevention

14© 2010 TMIT

Strategies

15© 2010 TMIT

Strategies

Perform a risk assessment of spread of

hospital-acquired infections

Perform a risk assessment of spread of

hospital-acquired infections

Organize hand-washing campaigns! Organize hand-washing campaigns! 

Study MDRO-related issues in health professions studentsStudy MDRO-related issues in health professions students

Spread NQF modules or create your own! Spread NQF modules or create your own!

16© 2010 TMIT

Strategies

“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.” -Sonia Johnson

http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/IHIOpenSchool/CheckABoxSaveALife.htm

Get involved with, or start a chapter of , “Check a Box. Save a Life,” Atul

Gawande’s effort to empower health professions students to decrease

surgical infections.

17© 2010 TMIT

Strategies

Educate patients colonized with MRSA and their families about healthcare-associated infections and infection prevention strategies

Thorough patient handout about living with MRSA

WebMD link for MRSA patients

CDC MRSA patient information website

18© 2010 TMIT

Resources

Safe Practice 24Multidrug-Resistant Organism Prevention

19© 2010 TMIT

Additional Resources

1. Great interactive resource for MDRO information and beyond:Antibiotic Stewardship. IHI Improvement Map. Cambridge (MA): Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI); 2009.  http://www.ihi.org/imap/tool/#Process=584d97d9-d698-478f-8a10-ee60362d7462

 2. Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Health Care Settings, 2006. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, et al. Am J Infect Control 2007 Dec;35(10 Suppl 2):S165-93.http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/MDROGuideline2006.pdf

3. Discussion of the systemic barriers to MDRO prevention:Are You Infected? Denham CR. J Patient Saf 2009 Sep;5(3):188=96.http://www.safetyleaders.org/QuickStart/SP24/resources/QuickStart_Article_SP24_A.pdf

Feel free to explore the rest of this module’s website as well!