Joint Commission Launches Infection Prevention Speak Up Campaign

The Joint Commission has launched a new Speak Up campaign on infection prevention.

"Speak Up To Prevent Infection" offers free, downloadable materials for consumers and healthcare providers to strengthen patient involvement in their own care. The campaign focuses on ways to prevent the risk and spread of infection. They cover hand hygiene, avoiding others when ill, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and keeping vaccinations current.

Educational resources available include an infographic, video and a guide to help providers effectively use the infographic and video as part of their infection prevention program.

The Speak Up program, launched in 2002, is used in more than 70 countries. As an acronym, SPEAK UP stands for:

• Speak up

• Pay attention

• Educate yourself

• Advocates (family members and friends) can help

• Know about your new medicine

• Use a quality health care organization 

• Participate in all decisions about your care

Learn more about Speak Up.

CDC's Virtual Tool Reduces Infection Risk for Cancer Patients

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation recently announced the launch of a virtual tool designed to help cancer patients reduce their infection risk.

The educational tool uses virtual human technology to strengthen patient-provider conversations about a chemotherapy side effect that may increase infection risk. Known as neutropenia, it is a decrease in the number of white blood cells — the body's main defense against infection. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells as well as white blood cells.

The new tool, called TINA, is a free mobile app available for Apple and Android devices. It can also be accessed via web browser. TINA features two role-play conversations in which providers and patients interact with fully articulated and emotionally responsive virtual humans.

The conversations available are:

• Training for Infection and Neutropenia Awareness (TINA) — Offers providers a training environment to practice conversations with cancer patients about neutropenia.

• Talking about Infection and Neutropenia Awareness (TINA) — A virtual provider answers patient questions about infection risk how they can protect themselves. 

"People dealing with a cancer diagnosis are incredibly overwhelmed with information, yet learning about the steps they can take to lower their risk of infection during chemotherapy is critical," said Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH, director of CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, in a news release. "TINA is the first-ever tool developed to engage both patients and providers in an educational and informative way. Our hope is that TINA can help facilitate more effective communication about this serious side effect of chemotherapy."

Infection Prevention Tip: Performing Skin Prep Technique Correctly

A recent surge in requests from clients to review possible and documented surgical site infections (SSIs) associated with orthopedic cases that also saw several cultures growing skin-contaminant organisms prompted ICCS to provide this tip.

The ICCS team of infection prevention consultants noted several inconsistencies when observing surgical cases, including failure to prep correctly from incision to periphery. It is important that all staff members, including nurses, surgical techs and surgeons, understand and follow specific instructions as well as general guidance on appropriate prep technique. Companies that manufacture skip prep products provide specific instructions for proper technique. These are available in various forms — including online videos — for use to educate and orient staff to the proper technique.

ICCS suggests contacting manufacturers and requesting an onsite demonstration. This is a great opportunity for live staff education and a refresher for all.

Have a question concerning SSIs and surgical prep? Contact ICCS!

Catch up on previously published infection prevention tips.