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Link: Environment and Behavior.
Private patient rooms have become the industry standard in the United States based on the assumption that they reduce the rate of hospital-acquired infections, facilitate patient care and management, and afford greater therapeutic benefits for patients. The objective of this article is to reviewand analyze the existing literature to identify the empirical evidence related to the advantages and disadvantages of single versus multiple-occupancy patient rooms in hospitals. Three substantive areas were identified for synthesis of the review: (a) first and operating cost of hospitals, (b) infection control, and (c) health care facility management and hospital design and therapeutic impacts. The analysis reveals that private patient rooms reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, allow for greater flexibility in operation and management, and have positive therapeutic impacts on patients. This review highlights the need to consider room occupancy issues along with other patient care issues and environmental and management policies.
Link: The Citizen
The family of a man who contracted the MRSA superbug at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital have condemned the fact he was left in the ward for 24 hours with other patients. Retired bricklayer and widower Arthur Barnfield, 78, of Ebley, Stroud, was diagnosed with the deadly bug on Tuesday, but not isolated until yesterday afternoon, potentially putting others at risk. "Since then the other beds in that ward have all been filled but Arthur is still there - so presumably they are at risk of being infected by him," said Mr Barnfield's stepson John Merrett yesterday, just before he was eventually isolated."
Link: [Optimising patient isolation due to meticllin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.].
Isolation of patients is used to control the spread of certain microorganisms in the hospital, e.g. meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Recent investigations have shown that the quality of care for patients in isolation is affected significantly. However, this is not accompanied by an effect on the morbidity or mortality. The successful Dutch policy on MRSA is based largely on strict isolation of patients colonised with MRSA. If MRSA becomes endemic, this is accompanied by increases in morbidity and mortality as well as costs. The disadvantages of isolation are recognised and should be prevented as far as possible. New diagnostic and therapeutic developments can shorten the duration of isolation significantly, which will further improve the quality of care.
A short introduction from Dave Roberts
This 12 minute introduction will help you grasp the key facts and the key issues surrounding drug resistant staph aureus (mersa, mursa)
