Manage Costs

Controlling infection through preventive measures

Diagnosis

Today, healthcare workers (HCWs) face an increasingly demanding workload. This steady rise has created difficulties with hand hygiene practices, contributing to a disturbing rise in healthcare-associated infections. Regrettably, this number has risen so high that healthcare-associated infections are now the eighth leading cause of death in the US -affecting over two million patients annually, resulting in over 88,000 deaths per year.^1,2 This matter is only compounded when taking the financial costs into consideration. These unnecessary expenses stem from additional treatments and extended hospital stays, which total nearly $5 billion every year in the US.³

Key issues contributing to this costly healthcare problem:

• An increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as MRSA and VRE
• Skin irritations caused by hand hygiene agents
• Limited access to hand hygiene stations and supplies
• Inadequate knowledge of hand hygiene guidelines and protocols
• Insufficient time allotted for proper handwashing and disinfecting
• High workloads and understaffing

Treatment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate a third of all healthcare-associated infections can be prevented through better infection control programs. Proper hand hygiene was defined as the single most important measure for preventing the spread of infection.⁵ As part of an ongoing effort to improve hand hygiene practices of HCWs and reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and personnel, the CDC released its Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings in October, 2002.

Key CDC guideline recommendations:

• Alcohol-based hand rubs are strongly recommended for routinely decontaminating hands if they are not visibly soiled
• Hands should be washed with non-antimicrobial soap or an antimicrobial soap if they are visibly soiled
• HCWs should be provided with hand lotions or creams to minimize the occurrence of irritant contact dermatitis associated with hand antisepsis or handwashing
• As part of a multi-disciplinary program to improve hand hygiene compliance, HCWs should be provided with an alcohol-based hand rub at readily accessible locations
• HCWs should be provided with educational and motivational programs regarding proper hand hygiene practices and methods

GOJO Solution

For over 50 years, GOJO has developed highly effective skin care regimens, which have changed the way the healthcare industry and other specialized markets maintain healthy skin. By continuously looking for easier ways to deliver optimal infection control and skin health, we have become one of the world's leading manufacturers of handwashing, hand sanitizing and hand moisturizing systems. Our research and development scientists combine the latest in skin care technology with our understanding of the healthcare environment to develop effective skin care programs, which create a safer environment for all.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Focus: surveillance, prevention and control of nosocomial infections. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Weekly Rep. 1992; 41: 783-787.
2. Jarvis WR. Selected aspects of the socioeconomic impact of nosocomial infections: morbidity, mortality, cost, and prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epedemiol 1996; 17: 552-557.
3. Morb Mortal Wkly Report. 1992; 41: 182-205.
5. National Center for Infectious Diseases, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention