Hospital-Acquired Infections have been a recent topic in the news, world-wide. Heart wrenching stories about the damage from superbugs such as MRSA and C diff, the preventable loss of life, and their financial burden on our economy are frequently highlighted in our nation’s media.
At PHLB, we are fortunate to have developed excellent infection control measures many years ago, allowing us to be leaders in the fight against these devastating infections. In our latest recognition, a team led by Dr. Alfonso Torress-Cook, Dr. Luke Watson, and Karen Scott managed to completely eliminate Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI). According to the
CDC, a urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection involving any part of
the urinary system, including urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidney.
UTIs are the most common type of healthcare-associated infection
reported to the
National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Among UTIs acquired in the hospital, approximately 75% are associated
with a urinary catheter, which is a tube inserted into the bladder
through the urethra to drain urine.
This past May, the California Hospital Association’s California Hospital Engagement Network congratulated PHLB for maintaining a rate of zero CAUTI’s from January 2011 to February 2013.
We laud the team's contributions to patient safety. A special thanks for all the hard work and dedication put forth by our
EVS personnel, LEAN practitioners, Nursing, Infection Control
Department, and the Leadership involved.
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Pacific Hospital of Long Beach has maintained a zero CAUTI Infection rate! |