Infection Control in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Infection Control in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
NAME
SCHOOL
NURC ….
INSTRUCTOR
July 17, 2021
Infection Control in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Introduction, define infection controland edit some information below.
FYI: Can you add Mann-Grandstaff(use all this attached two6.28.21INFECTION CONTROL TOPIC in this paper)
Infection control in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is necessary to provide appropriate information to implement effective measures to reduce and prevent mortality, morbidity, and costs related to hospital infections. To achieve this, there is a focus on lowering infection rates and preventing infections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2016). There is still a high incidence of infections in ICUs, but infection control and surveillance systems necessary to improve quality control and health outcomes. Control and prevention of nosocomial infection require recognizing higher risk areas in ICUs, where there is adequate vigilance and information to deal with the infection. There has been progressed in improving health outcomes among intensive care of critically ill patients, but there are still infections in ICU. The challenge in the ICU is to improve benefits by reducing the risks of complications to a minimum.After education and training on infection, there is a need to document what has been learned and evaluate whether the healthcare practitioners incorporate infection prevention measures (CDC, 2016). Competency-based training is necessary to enhance infection prevention policies and procedures and promote patient safety (CDC, 2016). Mann-Grandstaff follows infection control guidelines, practice and measures and health practitioners are expected to take precautions to avoid the spread of infections. As part of infection control, there are transmission-based precautions and standard precautions besides the infection control guidelines. The proposed tool is a Powerpoint presentation with a voice-over highlighting different measures on infection control in ICU, and a brochure is also presented to the patients.
Teaching/ Learning Need
The learning tool targets patients above 45 years old, and as the nurse I will improve knowledge on infection control. The participants learn more about infectious control in ICU and the dissemination of evidence necessary to gain support among the participants. There are expectations that after the teaching and learning sessions, there will be reduced infection rates and increased knowledge on infection control (CEDC, 2016). Thus, the learning tool applied in the training of the patient (participant) in the health area, which will also demonstrate the effectiveness of learning on infection control.
Teaching Tool Development
Using the best evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of interventions in reducing infections, especially when there is high antibacterial activity, is necessary to improve knowledge on preventing infections. The teaching of infection control in ICUs requires using different strategies for those nurses, other health practitioners, and students to have meaningful and reflective learning that strengthens their knowledge. The use of teaching and learning tools such as PowerPoint improves knowledge and the ability to improve infection control. Infections among hospitalized patients in ICUs increase healthcare costs and interventions are increasingly adopted to improve healthcare outcomes. The chosen infection control measure ought to significantly reduce the microbial load, be fast-acting, and have a persistent effect.
Teaching tool target audience and evidence
The intensive care unit (ICU) has some of those vulnerable patients who are constantly monitored to avoid the risk of complications. Safety and health are prioritized to avoid infections, but patients need to know more about the infection control interventions and strategies to improve health outcomes. Mann-Grandstaff is continuously searching for better ways to limit the spread of infection and improve the disinfection terminal cleans. Patients and healthcare workers can encounter various infectious diseases that are easily spread throughout the facility from all surfaces, including those hard to clean contaminated equipment and high touch surfaces. The need to implement the principles of infection control: 
* Transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, and airborne).
* standard precautions (hand hygiene, PPE, injection safety, environmental cleaning, and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette)
Identifying and implementing better strategies to prevent and limit the spread of infection and improving disinfection terminal cleans is necessary in infection control. Patients and healthcare workers can encounter are exposed to different infectious diseases. These diseases can easily spread when there is inadequate protection and infection control. Infections can spread throughout the facility from different surfaces including those hard to clean contaminated equipment and high touch surfaces. Implementing the principles of infection control is based on:
* Transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, and airborne).
* standard precautions (hand hygiene, PPE, injection safety, environmental cleaning, and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette)
Knowing about the modes of transmission is helpful as it is more likely that the participants will learn more about the transmission-based precautions. They also learn about bloodborne pathogens, which enter the body if there is a compromise to the skin integrity or through the mucous membranes. There are standards that institutions and employers are expected to follow to reduce exposure. Thus, as part of teaching and learning on infection control, the participants are informed about control plans that protect all. The infection control plans also include steps and precautions taken to protect against infections. Nurses have a high rate of exposure to patients as they care for different patients. While cleanliness and hygiene are universal or standard precautions, there is a need for Health Care Professionals (HCP) to get training and education on infection prevention (CDC, 2016).
Scientific Literature
Dressing frequency and infections
In the research by Gavin et al. (2016), the researchers reviewed the evidence on whether dressing changes in patients with Central venous access devices (CVADs) and intravenous medications affected the risk of infections and complications. While there was low-quality evidence on the impact of frequent changes in dressing on infections, they highlighted that measures to protect the skin from damage were essential to reduce the risk of infections and improve health outcomes. The dressing is part of the standard precautions to prevent infections when maintaining high hygiene levels. Therefore, continued monitoring of dressing, safety, hygiene, and cleanliness is necessary to prevent health complications associated with infections.
Catheter-related infections and antimicrobials
Patients with catheters are at risk of catheter colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infections, highlighting the need to implement infection control measures. Increasingly, central venous catheter (CVC) impregnation with antimicrobials is an infection control strategy (Lai et al., 2016). Furthermore, catheter coating or bonding is beneficial to protect against catheter-related infections (Lai et al., 2016).However, the effectiveness of CVC impregnated with antimicrobials catheterization varies depending on various factors such as the setting, duration of hospitalization, the patient's condition, the patient population, and the antimicrobials used. Combining minocycline and rifampicin to coat central venous catheters is one of the most effective antimicrobial impregnation (Lai et al., 2016). However, more research is required for patients in diverse settings to evaluate whether the lower risk of infection is significant.
Skin antisepsis and disinfection
Skin antisepsis and disinfection have been shown to reduce infections, including catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) (Lai et al., 2016 b). Applying disinfectants and maintaining high hygiene levels are standard precautions associated with a lower incidence of infections. Antiseptic agents that do not cause allergy or intolerance are safe alternatives. Hospitals have protocols and guidelines on using different antiseptic agents based on recommended protocols and best evidence. The beneficial effects of skin antisepsis have been demonstrated in various studies and, combined with...