Hospital infection prevention

Re “State lags in listing staph rates,” Feb. 24

This article notes that healthcare facilities can help prevent life-threatening infections with such “low-cost, low-tech measures” as “ensuring that staff disinfect their hands and use gloves or masks before treating patients.” These steps are essential, but hospitals need to do more. The best tactic is to create a comprehensive, multi-step prevention program so that even persistent bacteria can’t penetrate the multiple lines of defense.

For example, Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, Calif., developed an evidence-based group of practices that has completely eliminated infections related to central-line catheters for more than two years now. Such long-term success against these infections, which can be fatal, is almost unheard of in U.S. hospitals. Sutter’s success is described in an article in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of the Assn. for Vascular Access.

Kathleen McHugh RN

Chief Executive

Assn. for Vascular Access

Herriman, Utah