Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Wash your hands or your badge will buzz
Doctors at the University of Florida invented a device that sniffs employees' hands for soap residue to check whether they've washed them enough.
After employees wash their hands, they pass them under the sniffer and their badge activates. When they later approach a patient, a bed-side monitor reads the badge and flashes green if the person has clean hands. If the person didn't wash or too much time has passed since they have, the badge vibrates to remind the employee.
We'd already covered bathing hands with plasma instead of soap. Don't get those near the sniffer.
Labels: handwashing, humor, MRSA, superbugs
posted by Ryan DuBosar at
9:00 PM
0 Comments
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Ties that bind, and make you gag
Here's a complex solution to a simple problem. Doctors wear ties, which may carry germs that may add to the problem of health care acquired infections. British hospitals banned ties. In America, we made them germ resistant.
SafetyTies claims to make ties and scarves with a built-in barrier for dirt, liquids and bacteria. The company describes its "nanotechnology" and cites "independent studies" that show 99.95% resistance to H1N1 influenza. 
Whether the ties are attractive enough to wear is a matter of opinion, however. Patterns include those of MRSA microbes and other common germs. Do write us or send pictures if you actually buy one of these and wear it to your health care facility.
"In our effort to stop the spread of H1N1, we need every tool at our disposal," said SafeSmart co-founder April Strider in a press release. "While vaccinations and handwashing are obviously the first line of defense, SafetyTies and SafetyScarves are an easy, sensible and fashionable way for individuals to help reduce the spread of H1N1."
Or, doctors can stop wearing them. We've covered this issue before. ACP Hospitalist has a bit more practical advice from our magazine and our weekly e-news about serious efforts to reduce health care acquired infections. And, others have suggested using dedicated stethoscopes in rooms dedicated to treating resistant infections.
UPDATE: Doctors are buying these ties. Some feel a tie conveys respect to the patient and have chosen to adopt their use.
posted by Ryan DuBosar at
12:30 PM
0 Comments
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Got MRSA?
A new study of U.S. data shows that in the five years that elapsed between the beginning of 2000 through the end of 2004, the number of people hospitalized
for community-acquired MRSA infections rose by 29%. Possible explanations include greater resistance to antibiotics prescribed for outpatients, and more physician awareness of the
seriousness of the infections--which leads them to recommend hospitalization, the authors said. The article is in the September Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
Speaking of infections, the Sept. EID journal also contains a fascinating little piece on the dangers of backyard raccoon "latrines". Less than a teaspoon of raccoon poo can contain tens of thousands of parasite eggs which can attack the brain and eyes, leading to death or neurologic disability, the article says. It advises parents to keep an eye on where their children play, and drive those nasty raccoons away when possible. (The latter is easier said than done, according to a bunch of people on the Internet.)
Labels: MRSA
posted by Jessica Berthold at
3:35 PM
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Send comments to ACP Hospitalist staff at acphospitalist@acponline.org.
Previous Posts
- Medical News of the Obvious
- Medical News of the Obvious
- Wash your hands or your badge will buzz
- Medical News of the Obvious
- Stroke 2010: Wii can do it
- Stroke 2010: Tips to manage acute ICH
- Stroke 2010: Quality metrics for neurohospitalists...
- Medical News of the Obvious
- Rural hospitals: Affiliation on the horizon?
- Magic little handwashing box
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