2
My View: Miami key in battle against ‘Superbugs’ By Kevin Maughan Posted on Sunday, 07.14.13 Each year in the U.S., healthcare-acquired infections such as MRSA, Staph and Coronavirus affect nearly two million people, killing more people annually than breast cancer, prostate cancer and automobile accidents combined. Two Miami- based facilities — the West Gables Health Care Center and Bay Oaks — have participated in a pilot program with my company, NOVAERUS, to develop and implement infection control programs that combine staff expertise, best practices and technology, to prevent — not just treat — infections. The results are very promising, and I predict that by this time next year, both will achieve national recognition as models all healthcare facilities can follow. One patient out of every 20 admitted to hospital contracts a nosocomial infection, (an infection the patient did not have when they entered the facility), with 1.8 million people per year acquiring an infection during their hospital stays. More than 99,000 Americans die annually — that’s 270 deaths every day. The elderly and immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk. While the threats have grown more sophisticated, the methods of controlling and preventing these life-threatening infections have not. The last true revolution in infection control occurred in 1867 when British surgeon Joseph Lister began using carbolic acid as an antiseptic, significantly reducing mortality rates from infection by 30 percent within a decade. Current HAI prevention practices include: • Isolating infected patients. • Requiring staff to wash their hands after each patient examination. • Wearing protective gowns, masks, gloves and other equipment. • Cleaning rooms with harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide. Eliminating airborne pathogens is a critical component of any infection control program. Traditional practices may prevent infection via direct contact with humans or surfaces, but not via what the CDC defines as “aerial dissemination.” Marco Carrasco and Kathryn Kassner, the administrators at West Gables and Bay Oaks respectively, understand that even the strongest antibiotic is a reactive measure. If someone contracts one of these drug-resistant infections, it can already be too late to treat them effectively. The West Gables Health Care Center is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility that provides the highest levels of post-acute medical care to patients who have completed their hospital stays but are not well enough to return home. The median age of patients is 86, and the average short-term stay is 32 days. The Bay Oaks assisted-living facility next to Biscayne Bay is a social model facility, and does not have in-residence seniors with serious medical conditions, disabilities or dementia that prohibits them from performing the basics for themselves. The typical resident is an 84-year-old female, with the eldest being 102 years old. When residents do become ill and have to be hospitalized, they return in a weakened state and are more susceptible to infections and respiratory
