Background: Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) are a common problem in healthcare. They impact patients in all facility types, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.
Purpose: The intensive care unit (ICU) tends to be the primary focus for HAI reduction efforts, despite surveys indicating a high percentage of HAIs outside of the ICU. NHSN’s Progress Report (2016), showed that as many as 70% of HAIs occur outside of ICUs. Whether contracted in or out of the ICU, the consequences on treatment cost, time, and outcomes, significantly impacts patients and providers alike.
Indications: As facilities seek to combat HAIs, wherever they appear, embracing a horizontal approach to infection prevention can enhance protocols across the board. Hospital-wide decolonization of pathogens that cause HAIs, including daily CHG bathing, is a beneficial strategy (Pyrek, 2014).