| An infection control nurse has one primary role, | | | | juggernaut which clinicians, physicians and hospital |
| and that is to prevent hospital infections in their | | | | administrators are seeking to undo. The wearing |
| patients by carrying out infection prevention | | | | of sterile gloves and aprons, sanitizing surfaces, |
| protocols diligently. Hospital infections account for | | | | managing indoor air quality, and vigorous personal |
| an estimated 99,000 deaths per year in the | | | | hygiene methods go a long way toward infection |
| United States, which is why the mandate for | | | | prevention in our hospitals and clinics. |
| having an infection control nurse present is urgent. | | | | Hospital infections can be spread between all |
| Infection control nurses who are well-schooled in | | | | hospital staff and visitors. Infection prevention |
| all aspects of hospital infections help stem a | | | | must account for every contingency involving |
| deadly tide, which is putting hospitals at great | | | | possible bacterial transmission, so infection control |
| liability, and patients at tremendous risk. | | | | nurses, as well as staff, must have every |
| The primary role of an infection control nurse | | | | protection at the ready. We may not be close to |
| cannot be underestimated. These key healthcare | | | | winning the battle against hospital infections, but |
| personnel are at the ready, with infection | | | | the use of personal protective equipment and |
| prevention methods which include the use of | | | | disinfection caps by infection control nurses |
| disinfection caps, which are designed to disinfect | | | | ensures a certain amount of infection prevention |
| swabable luer access valves prior to line access in | | | | for some 90% of hospital patients. |
| IV administration. But hospital infections are still a | | | | |