You First Services Research Scientist
Seniors are currently the fastest-growing population in the United States. It’s expected, between the years 2012 and 2050, the 65-and-over population will expand to 83.7 million (1). Since increased age tends to lead to slower immune response and a drop in our body’s ability to heal itself, (2) our country will begin to see a dramatic rise of people living with an increased risk of infection and disease, especially those in a healthcare setting.
Did you know that 1.4 million American seniors permanently reside in nursing homes and an additional 4 million receive short-term care in nursing home facilities? (3) Due to their age and immune system decline, these seniors are at high risk for developing a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). A 2011 prevalence study reported an 11.5% HAI prevalence rate in patients over the age of 85 (4). Additionally, the overall burden of HAIs in nursing homes is now estimated to exceed that of acute care facilities (5). This is in part due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in long-term care (LTC) facilities (6). In fact, over 35% of nursing home residents are colonized with MDROs (6-9). LTC facilities now largely serve as reservoirs for resistant organisms in the community. Most residents in such facilities have extensive histories of health care exposure, and many have chronic in-dwelling devices, such as feeding tubes or urinary catheters.
The most common HAIs in nursing homes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), respiratory infections, skin or wound infections, gastroenteritis, and sepsis. Sepsis is less common; however, it is one of the most lethal infections that nursing home residents can develop. Of these infections, the highest reported infection is that of UTIs, especially those that are associated with an indwelling catheter. These infections are known as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). It has been recorded that up to 13% of men and 12% of women have an indwelling urinary catheter upon admission to a nursing home (10). Each successive day of catheterization increases the risk of urine colonization by 3 to 8%, such that virtually all patients catheterized for greater than 30 days will experience bacteriuria (bacteria in the bloodstream), and the majority of patients with long-term catheters will experience at least one CAUTI (11-13). CAUTIs are particularly concerning because they can quickly lead to the onset of secondary bloodstream infections, which results in increased morbidity and mortality (10, 14).
HAI-causing microorganisms are spread to residents through four common routes of transmission: contact (direct and indirect), respiratory droplets, airborne spread, and common vehicle. Contact and common vehicle transmission are the most frequent modes of transmission in a healthcare setting. Infectious organisms are often transiently transferred to a health care worker (not causing an infection) or an abiotic medical device and are transferred to a susceptible resident who then develops an infection from that organism.
The source and transmission of the infecting microorganism needs to be properly eliminated in order to achieve HAI prevention in nursing home and LTC facilities. This requires obvious compliance to hand hygiene practices by the healthcare personnel, as well as the use and frequent replacement of proper personal protective equipment (PPE) (gloves, gowns, masks, etc.) (15). Proper cleaning and disinfection of medical devices is also essential to assure infection prevention and patient safety (15). Unfortunately, traditional manual disinfectants are often sub-optimal when it comes to effective protection against the spread of pathogens. Such disinfectants are not able to fully penetrate and disinfect hard-to-reach areas, and often leave behind a film of residue. This results in inconsistent device disinfection and increased transmission of infection. However, this inconsistency can be effectively addressed with the use of innovative disinfection technologies such as GloTran.
GloTran is an automated disinfection system based on cold plasma disinfection technology. Unlike manual disinfectants, GloTran has the ability to penetrate into hard-to-reach areas and mated surfaces. The gas plasma also removes all residues and detoxifies contaminants. The treatment is dry and cool, safe for many non-critical devices and electronics that cannot be treated with wet or high-temperature disinfection methods. The process is automated and effortless and delivers consistent results. Implementing this innovative and standardized technology into nursing homes and LTC facilities nationwide could effectively reduce the prevalence of HAIs and improve the quality of life for their residents.
As with any form of disinfection, you should be aware of the pros and cons in order to make an informed decision on whether GloTran is a fit for your business.
For staff and residents alike, electronics like tablets and smart devices have become commonplace in care facilities, allowing for quick access to critical patient information and providing the ability to monitor visitors and residents inside their facility.
As with any form of disinfection, you should be aware of the pros and cons in order to make an informed decision on whether GloTran is a fit for your business.
GloTran™ is developed by EQM Technologies, Inc., a division of You First Services, Inc.
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