Infection Prevention
UH is dedicated to identifying and reducing the risks associated with the acquisition and transmission of infections among its patients, employees, medical staff members, contracted personnel, volunteers, students and visitors.
All activities of surveillance, prevention and control use a multi-disciplinary team approach, are in full alignment with best practices and evidence-based guidelines, and are conducted both at the direct care level and at the patient support level to reduce healthcare associated infections.
Educational needs are addressed as appropriate for physicians, medical students, medical/surgical residents, staff, patients, visitors and community in areas related to infection control, prevention and contagious illnesses.
An annual infection prevention risk assessment is conducted in support of planning ongoing infection prevention and focused surveillance activities.
- All plans and actions are based on the following and other regulatory agencies:
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- Centers for Disease Control’s National Health Safety Network guidelines
- Association of Practitioners in Infection Control protocols
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services standards
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards
- The Joint Commission standards
- Ongoing surveillance and infection control activities target, but are not limited to the following:
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- Urgent response to community epidemics
- Hospital-acquired conditions:
- Clostridium Difficile (C diff) Infections
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Bacteremia
- Specific surgical site infections (SSI) for:
- Colon surgery
- Coronary bypass graft and valve replacement
- Total abdominal hysterectomy
- Total hip replacement
- Total knee replacement
- Blood-borne pathogen exposure
- Hand hygiene
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia
- Vaccinations for flu and pneumonia
- Construction projects
Results reported publicly are available at CMS Hospital Compare