Hand-washing and housekeeping lapses blamed for high infection rate

Cavan General Hospital in County Cavan, Ireland, cited for unclean commodes and equipment and inadequate plumbing


Higher than usual infection rates at Cavan General Hospital in County Cavan, Ireland, were blamed on hand-washing and housekeeping lapses, according to an article on the Irish Independent website.

An inspection warned the lapses in handwashing posed an immediate high risk to the health and welfare of patients, staff and visitors.

Other problems included an unclean commode, oxygen saturation probe and IV stand wheels at a patient's bedside in a surgical ward. Also, the cleaning of patient wash basins in the bed pan washer was not in line with best practice and the toilet flush in one six-bedded ward was not working effectively during the days prior to inspection.

Inspectors also recommended a review of the water system to prevent Legionnaires disease.

Read the article.

 



December 2, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


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