Disposables as H1N1 Pandemic Prevention
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recent WebMD article addressing the flu pandemic said, "H1N1 swine flu is spreading faster and wider in the U.S. That's worrisome -- but more and more, health officials are fretting about what might happen the fall."
In lieu of the growing concern around the potential for the mass outbreak of the H1N1 flu I am hearing that many facilities are reviewing their disinfection practices in preparation for treating larger amounts of patients and controlling the spread of the illness as much as possible.
I turn to a CDC document released last fall to highlight a few key considerations, including the increased use of disposable products as a preventative measure.
According to the CDC "The ultimate goal of the Recommendations for Disinfection and Sterilization in Health-Care Facilities, 2008, is to reduce rates of healthcare-associated infections through appropriate use of both disinfection and sterilization."
In light of this possible pandemic, has your facility been rethinking its approach to disinfection and the use of disposables? What are your thoughts on the benefits vs. the downsides you see?