Importance of Healthy Diet during Pandemic

   Importance of Healthy diet during pandemic(COVID-19)

Introduction of Pandemic and its effects on Health

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a lot of changes in our daily lives. We are social distancing, staying home, and unable to dine out at restaurants. It can be easy to slip into unhealthy eating habits during this stay-at-home period, but with a little thought and preparation, maintaining a healthy diet doesn’t have to be a chore.

Nutritional status plays a very important role in the prevention and treatment of contagious and non-contagious diseases. In the frame of a health contingency, the use of strategies that strengthen our nutritional status and immune system is essential. No one knows how long these virus security measures will take, but there is a perfect time to protect and improve your health while practicing social distancing.

A healthy diet is especially important to keep your immune system in top condition Here are some steps you can take to eat healthy in the (COVID-19)

Good nutrition is always important, but during this pandemic, it’s even more important because a well-balanced diet of nutritious foods helps support a strong immune system.

When it’s time to go grocery shopping, a little planning can help you get in and out of the store quickly. Prepare a shopping list that will cover you and everyone in your household for two weeks, and resist the urge to buy in much larger quantities. Buying more than you need means less for others and possibly unnecessary food waste.

With fresh foods, buy a variety in quantities that you would normally buy. Plan for a mix of fresh, frozen (meats, vegetables, fruits and breads), and shelf-stable foods (pastas, rice, legumes, nut butters, and dried and canned goods). Eat fresh food first, and stock your freezer and pantry with items you can eat in the second week and beyond.

If you don’t want to risk being around others at the supermarket, buying food online and having it delivered is another option, as is curbside pickup, which some local supermarkets are offering. Our region also has a variety of community-supported agriculture systems, where small farmers sell directly to consumers and through food boxes delivered to homes. This is a great way to support local farmers while getting the freshest possible food for your family.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Frozen or canned fruits and vegetables also contain vitamins and minerals, although the processing of these products sometimes adds ingredients such as sugar, salt or preservatives. Be sure to read the labels so you can choose what’s best for you and your family.

Consume a diet rich in whole grains, nuts and healthy fats such as in olive, sesame, peanut or other oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids. These foods help to support your immune system.

It’s tempting to reach for comfort food when we’re stressed, and that’s okay once in a while. But don’t make it a habit because many of these foods, such as mac and cheese, pizza, and burgers and fries, are high in fat, sugar and salt. Read food labels so you can be informed about the nutritional value of the foods you’re buying, serving to your family and eating.

Drink water regularly. Staying well hydrated also helps your immune system. Stick with plain water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages to cut down on empty calories.

During these challenging times, it can also be tempting to cope by reaching for an alcoholic drink. If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Alcoholic beverages have little nutritional value and are often high in calories, and excess consumption of alcohol is linked to numerous health problems.

Some steps you can take to eat Healthy Supplements in the (COVID-19)

1. Minimize your visits to the supermarket during the pandemic and eat healthy.

2. Clean your hands and the handle of the shopping cart at the grocery store.

3. Plan what you are going to buy. Make a shopping list, taking into account what your family likes and cooking methods.

4. Include your children in meal planning, preparation, and cleaning.

5. Limit impulse purchases of treats like chips, soda, cookies, ice cream, because they are high in empty calories and increase your grocery bill.

6. Consider low-cost alternatives. For example, instead of buying pre-made hummus, make your own by pureeing a drained can of chickpeas.

7. Check the expiration date of the products before purchasing.

8. Try some new recipes. Have you ever made homemade pizza, roasted a whole chicken, or cooked meatballs from scratch? There are many great recipes on the internet! Look for those that need only a few ingredients and use common kitchen tools.

9. Keep in mind the basic foods that we must have at home to achieve a balanced diet that will keep our bodies strong.

10. Arrange the cupboard and refrigerator with the FIFO method (‘first in, first out’) to avoid spoiling or using out-of-date foods.

11. Stay hydrated. Drink at least two liters a day and promote physical activity at home.

12. Practice positive stress management strategies like staying busy and engaged, enjoying your hobbies, reading, cooking, making videos with your kids, starting a scrapbook, helping your kids with their virtual school assignments, and keeping in touch with family members.

13. Share meals together with your family at the table. Enjoy the moment.

14. Think positive! Mindset is vital to overcome this pandemic in a physically and mentally healthy way.

Remember these vitamins!!

Thanks for the attention hope this article will help u all so stay healthy and eat healthy food supplements.

Reference taken from WHO guidelines.

Written By:

Priyanka Massey

Certified Infection Control Nurse

Professional Trainer.

Ingenious Health Care Consultants Pvt.Ltd.

Tele-Medicine During Covid-19

Tele-Medicine During COVID-19

As the COVID-19 virus break all the healthcare system, Tele-medicine is stepping up into the spotlight and helping healthcare provider organizations and caregivers better respond to the needs of Americans who have contracted the virus and Americans who need to touch base with their providers on the status of their health.

Tele-medicine is making a very positive contribution to healthcare during the pandemic, and is being used in a variety of ways. But tele health technologies do have certain limitations when it comes to treating patients during a pandemic. Further, there is a chance Tele-medicine could add to hospitals being overwhelmed, unless it’s used well. But hospitals are learning to adapt to Tele-health during a pandemic.

About Tele-medicine

Tele-medicine (also referred to as "telehealth" or "e-health") allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients in remote locations using telecommunications technology. Tele-medicine allows patients in remote locations to access medical expertise quickly, efficiently and without travel.

How Tele-medicine is being used in the context of COVID-19 for common people?

During this Global pandemic, Tele-health is emerging as an effective and sustainable solution for precaution, prevention and treatment to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Tele-health is bridging the gap between people, physicians and health systems, enabling everyone, especially symptomatic patients, to stay at home and communicate with physicians through virtual channels, helping to reduce the spread of the virus to mass populations and the medical staff on the front lines, Critically, hospitals are quickly adopting Tele-health to treat quarantined patients infected with COVID-19

“In addition, the CDC is urging the public and medical staff to use Tele health solutions for non-urgent communication in an effort to reduce the pressures facing emergency rooms and clinics,” he explained. “By deploying Tele health solutions and programs, people who are suffering from other medical ailments during this time can receive care from home, without entering medical facilities, minimizing their risk of contracting the virus.”

Minimizing risk to healthcare workers

The primary care physicians are working tirelessly in the front lines at ground zero, Now they able to divide the patients into the at-risk and not-at-risk groups. Appropriate measures can then be taken to minimize the risks to healthcare workers and patients. The right actions can then be taken for the patients who have been pre-screened, saving precious time and minimizing risks of transmission to all.

Many chronic patients can from home have scheduled Tele consultations to avoid face-to-face clinic visits and hence minimize their risks of exposure to COVID-19, he added.

Limitations to Tele-health from COVID-19

Tele-medicine can be a tool for managing COVID19, However, there is one glaring disconnect that must resolve the clinical symptom's as well the other suspended OPD during this pandemic.

The basis for out-of-hospital management is testing,” he said. “The linchpin of management of a pandemic is widespread testing and conventional tele medicine today may not offer that. Perhaps a ‘crisis-based’ evolution of tele-medicine can help find local testing centers and also manage the flow of patients seeking a test.

With respect to COVID19, the data suggests that most people will have a mild infection and the clinical course will be unremarkable. In these instances, tele-medicine may not really be all that necessary.

However, for a smaller subset of higher risk patients, the clinical course may not be consistent with conventional tele-medicine,” he explained. “These patients often present with a more serious condition that results in rapid decompensation and requires hospitalization. The reality might be that for COVID19, tele-medicine as it exists now, needs to be modified to help manage early testing, diagnosis and triage for those who may require in-patient care.

Not yet equipped for Tele-medicine OPD

The most significant limitation to tele-health use in the COVID-19 response right now is that while some hospitals and large physician practices are equipped to deliver care in this way, most hospitals and private practices are not, said to go in OPD's.

Tele-medicine hasn’t traditionally been used in response to public health crises, but that is changing with COVID-19,” he said. “I’m encouraged that government and private insurance companies are making policy changes to promote its use. The CDC is calling for healthcare facilities to adopt Tele-medicine to protect patients and staff, and many large hospitals are racing to implement and scale up these capabilities at their front lines.

                                 

Actually reducing the burden of Hospitals

Actually, Tele-medicine is reducing the burden on hospitals as they deal with the spread of COVID-19 and the associated increased caseload Although some doctors are now required to dedicate time to screening patients via Tele-medicine while maintaining treatment of other patients, they would be doing that at the time of selected hours of Tele-medicine.

It’s worth noting that hospitals have varying capacities for deploying Tele-medicine right now, but those that are able to offer Tele-health services to any degree are seeing benefits Even something as basic as using the online waiting room features keeps patients from piling up in close proximity to one another while they wait for their exams in person, so that’s all proving to be a great help in flattening the curve and alleviating the overall burden on all hospitals.

How are hospitals adapting to Tele-medicine during the pandemic?

Hospitals routinely prepare for crises, but they have not really leveraged Tele-health technologies in the past so this time hospitals also adapting this practice of Tele-medicine.

As the healthcare system grapples with COVID-19, however, we see more and more hospitals adopt these technologies to limit exposure at the front lines, and to protect staff as well as other patients Hospitals that choose well will find that the benefits of Tele-health extend beyond this current public health need – because other crises will surely come.

Benefits of tele-medicine

A tele-medicine technology and services vendor, reports that healthcare is seeing a surge of direct-to-consumer tele-medicine providers operating at a large scale helping to provide care to patients who might be wondering if they need care after exhibiting potential symptoms associated with the novel corona virus.

Simultaneously we’re also seeing a rapidly increasing need for on-demand acute care via tele-medicine,” he said. “This includes ICU programs offering intensive care for the most critical patients. However, tele-triage is exploding in terms of the number of use-cases that involves determining when a patient presents in the emergency department whether they need to be issued a bed or if they can be seen in another area within the hospital in order to keep the patient safe and to reduce potential exposures.

This helps to limit providers’ exposure to the virus and other infectious diseases.

Conclusion

Tele-medicine is such a perfect, ready-made solution to addressing COVID-19 that it wouldn’t make sense not to use it, and plenty of hospitals are making efforts to grow their Tele-health services to better serve patients during this time.

Thanks for the attention  hope this article will help you all and if you all are waiting to subside all the situation of this pandemic so don't wait for ongoing O.P.D directly contact to the hospitals for tele-medicine services in their hospitals for your health concerns this is the best option during this situation stay at your home and be safe.

                      

Written By:

Priyanka Massey

Certified Infection Control Nurse

Professional Trainer

Ingenious Health Care Consultants Pvt.Ltd

DETOXIFICATION

 

DETOXIFICATION

Introduction

Detoxification or detoxication (detox for short) is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver.

It typically implies following a specific diet or using special products that claim to rid your body of toxins, thereby improving health and promoting weight loss.

Fortunately, your body is well-equipped to eliminate toxins and doesn’t require special diets or expensive supplements to do so.

Detox diets are said to eliminate toxins, in turn improving health and promoting weight loss.

But these diets while seductive aren’t needed as the body has its own, highly efficient detoxification system.

So, we can enhance our body’s natural detoxification system and improve our overall health by staying hydrated, consuming less salt, getting active, and following an antioxidant-rich diet.

How the detoxification work?

Basically, detoxification means cleansing the blood this is done by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination the body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and skin. However, when these systems are compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and the body is adversely affected.

A detox program can help the body's natural cleansing process by:

Resting the organs through fasting.

Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body.

Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys, and skin.

Improving circulation of the blood.

Refueling the body with healthy nutrients.

"Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells, the smallest units of human life."

How do we know if we need to Detoxify?

Medical treatment and Ayurveda suggests that everyone should detox at least once a year. However, cautions against detoxing for nursing mothers, children, and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis. Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have questions about whether detoxing is right for you.

Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, "it's critical to detox," if got symptoms from prolonged time like:

1.Unexplained fatigue

2.Sluggish elimination

3.Irritated skin

4.Allergies

5.Low-grade infection

6.Puffy eyes or bags under the eyes

7.Bloating

8.Menstrual problems

9.Mental confusion

How do we start Detoxification?

First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars, and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants, and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.

Another hindrance to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress hormones into your system. While these hormones can provide the "adrenaline rush" to win a race or meet a deadline, in large amounts they create toxins and slow down detoxification enzymes in the liver. Yoga, Ongoing and meditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions to the inevitable stress life will bring. 

About Detoxification Program 

There are many detoxification programs and detox recipes, depending on your individual needs Many programs follow a seven-day schedule because, as per the recommendations takes the body time to clean the blood these program involves fasting on liquids for two days, followed by a carefully planned five-day detox diet to allow the digestive system to rest. Recommends says a three- to seven-day juice fast (drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable juices and water) as an effective way to release toxins.

Here are five detox diets:

Simple Fruit and Veggie Detox

Smoothie Cleanse

Juice Cleanse

Sugar Detox

Hypoallergenic Detox

                  

TOP 10 WAYS TO HELP BODY DETOXIFICATION

After a detoxification program, you can cleanse your body daily with these diet supplements and lifestyle practices:

1.Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods.

2.Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock, and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.

3.Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.

4.Drink at least two quarts of water a day, made easy by bringing  Stainless Steel Wide Mouth Water Bottle with you everywhere you go!

5.Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.

6.Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.

7.Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.

8.Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate waste through perspiration.

9.Dry-brush your skin or try detox foot spas/foot baths to remove toxins through your pores. Special brushes are available at natural products stores.

10.Most important way to detoxify Exercise ,Yoga or jump-roping are good One hour every  day also try Ongoing, a martial arts based exercise system that includes exercises specifically for detoxifying or cleansing, as well as many other exercises with specific health benefits.

Conclusion

Consult your doctor before using any health treatment, including herbal supplements and natural remedies, and tell your doctor if you have a serious medical condition or are taking any medications. The information presented here is for educational purposes only and is in no way intended as substitute for medical counseling.

                          

Thanks for your attention hope my this article will help you all.

Reference taken from Health line.

Written By:

Priyanka Massey

Certified Infection Control Nurse

Professional Trainer.

Ingenious Health Care Consultants Pvt. Ltd.

How To Get Success in Health Care Industry

  

   

What is Health Care Industry?

The healthcare industry is an aggregation and integration of sectors within the economic system that provides goods and services to treat patients with curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and palliative care health care industry Comprises of providers of diagnostic, preventive, remedial, and therapeutic services such as doctors, nurses, hospitals and other private, public, and voluntary organizations. It also includes medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurance firms.

Every industry has its own unique challenges and if one is aware of the pitfalls that they can face, it’s possible to have a smooth road to the finish line. The medical industry is particularly challenging but it is also extremely rewarding for those willing to take the risks that it involves. The following are a few words of advice for the unwary traveler on how to succeed in the medical industry:

Medical Industry Segments.

Each industry has its own segments that cover various functions of that particular industry. The joint result of all those segments makes up one industry. For example, the medical industry will include clinical, laboratory, office, etc. This is important to pay attention to since you need to identify which faction of the industry your skill sets belong to.

One skill set will not fill all areas of the healthcare field and hopefully, you have already identified your segment. If you haven’t figured out where in the healthcare industry you want to be don’t worry you’ll just have to do research about the healthcare industry segments!

Understand the segments before you enter in health care Industry.

There’s a good chance that you might be anxious to get your feet wet in the industry. However, before you jump in, try to take some time out to test the waters first before you do anything rash. Market research plays a huge role in making sure that you pick the right option for you.

Furthermore, make sure to identify all the problems that a particular segment showcases. What might be doable for the clinical segment will not be doable for laboratory work, and vice versa. By taking the time to understand the challenges, you’re only helping give yourself a head’s up to better prepare yourself.

What is the role of Hospitals?

The hospitals are sub-sector part of the health care and social assistance sector Industries in the Hospitals sub-sector provide medical, diagnostic, and treatment services that include physician, nursing, and other health services to inpatients and the specialized accommodation services required by Inpatients.

How can we get success in health care sector?

The healthcare industry is one that can be incredibly rewarding, but it is also an industry that can be challenging to succeed in. Healthcare is competitive because it can bring so many benefits, and you get to make a positive difference to the world, but this does mean that it is challenging to stand out from the crowd and progress your career. Not only this, as such a demanding and stressful field, many people also find that it is hard to manage at times, so it is essential to know how you can look after yourself. Read on for a few tips on how to succeed in this industry. 

Develop Positive Relationships 

Although competitive, there is a strong support network in healthcare, and you must forge strong connections with everyone that you work with. This can help to provide support while also helping you to build a positive reputation, which will be vital for providing new opportunities and impressing your superiors.

Network Constantly 

Following this, you must also make sure that you are continually developing your professional network for new opportunities and to build your professional reputation. You can network while you are at work as well as at industry events and online on social media. 

Be Passionate 

As with most industries, you will be able to perform to a high level while also impressing those around you simply by being passionate about what you do. Taking on extra work, going the extra mile for patients, supporting your coworkers, and having a positive attitude will all help you to succeed and stand out from the crowd. 

Gain Extra Qualifications

To climb the ladder in your field, it is likely that you will have to continue to study. This is easier than ever in today’s day and age as you can study online at places which can make it easier to work while you study and earn a qualification that will help you to advance your career. 

Use Time Off Effectively 

As mentioned, many people struggle in healthcare because it can be so demanding and stressful at times. This means that you need to know how to use your time off effectively and ensure that you are de-stressing, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and spending time with loved ones. Planning in advance is the best way to do this and then being strict with your time. 

Stay Current 

Healthcare is an industry that is continuously changing with new medicines, procedures, trends, and technologies. Therefore, it is essential to stay current so that you can excel in your role, adapt to changes in the workplace, and show that you are committed to your career. A few ways to do this include reading medical journals, research online, attending industry events, and networking. 

Conclusion 

These tips should help anyone working in the healthcare industry to find success in their role, stand out from the crowd, and develop their career. Healthcare is a great industry to work in, but it can also be challenging, demanding, and competitive.

Thanks for the attention my this article is specially for those who wanted to join health care Industry.

Written By:

Priyanka Massey

Certified Infection Control Nurse 

Professional Trainer

Ingenious Healthcare Consultants Pvt.Ltd.

Medical Terminology

                               

What is Medical Terminology?

Medical terminology is a system of words that are used to describe specific medical aspects and diseases its a language used to precisely describe the human body including its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it. The roots, prefixes and suffixes are often derived from Greek or Latin, and often quite dissimilar from their English-language variants.

Medical terminology is also employed when describing diseases or procedures. As an example, review acute pancreatitis in the posterior portion of the organ.

The root (pancrea-) indicates the organ of involvement, the pancreas. The suffix (-itis) indicates an inflammation. Acute denotes a rapid onset, as contrasted to chronic which is of long duration. Posterior refers to the portion of the pancreas that is to the rear of the body. This portion of the organ is also called the head of the pancreas.

This illustrates another important aspect of medical terminology, that there is frequently more than one way to accurately describe a location or structure.

What is the Importance of Medical Terminology?

Medical terminology allows all medical professionals to understand each other and communicate effectively where everyone understands what a condition, medicine, or procedure is, they are able to fulfill their roles accordingly, whether that is delivering medicine or billing for a medicine.

Where does the Medical terminology comes from?

Medical terminology originated during the Renaissance when the discipline of anatomy begin. Practicing in Italian medical schools, early anatomists and physicians used Latin to describe various parts of the anatomy. These naming conventions have remained in place to current day all the medical professional are using presently to communicate effectively in their field.

Important Medical Terms You Need to Know 

These medical terms will keep you informed not only in daily conversation but in situations when they matter most word cloud of medical terms.

Have you and your family ever been suffer from any illness and hospitalized Of course you heard  these terms but maybe that time you don't know these terms.

Have you ever been watching a live sporting event when an athlete suddenly left the game due to injury? Of course you have. The media coverage goes to commercial and at the first glance of a medical update, the sports broadcaster is back on live TV saying something about a “contusion” or “abrasion.”

One of two things usually happens from there. One, you may think it’s ridiculous that the media referred to a bruise as a contusion, or a scrape as an abrasion. Two, this may actually pique a desire in you to learn some medical vocabulary. For most of us, it’s probably the first.

It's helpful to know commonly used medical terms, so I compiled a list of 25 that will surely get help you out next time you’re at the doctor’s office.

Top 25 medical terms to know

 

Benign: Not cancerous

Malignant: Cancerous

Anti-inflammatory: Reduces swelling, pain, and soreness (such as ibuprofen or naproxen)

Body Mass Index (BMI): Body fat measurement based on height and weight

Biopsy: A tissue sample for testing purposes

Hypo-tension: Low blood pressure

Hypertension: High blood pressure

Lesion: Wound, sore, or cut

Noninvasive: Doesn’t require entering the body with instruments; usually simple

Outpatient: Check in and check out the same day without admission

Inpatient: Plan to stay overnight for one or more days with hospital admission

In remission: Disease is not getting worse; not to be confused with being cured

Membrane: Thin layer of pliable tissue that serves as a covering or lining or connection between two structures

Acute: Sudden but usually short (e.g. acute illness)

Angina: Pain in the chest related to the heart that comes and goes

Gastroesophageal Re-flux Disease (GERD): Heartburn

Cellulitis: Inflamed or infected tissue beneath the skin

Epidermis: Outermost layer of skin

Neutrophils: Most common type of white blood cell

Edema: Swelling

Embolism: Blood clot

Sutures: Stitches

Polyp: Mass or growth of thin tissue

Compound fracture: Broken bone that protrudes through the skin

Complicated fracture: Broken bone that shatters into many pieces

Next time you hear one of these terms— Hospitals whether on TV, in a medical environment, or elsewhere—you won’t miss a beat. Just beware, you may be asked to translate for others.

Conclusion- A working knowledge of medical terminology is an absolute necessity for success in any of the medical sciences and It is highly useful for individuals who interact with medical professionals.

Thanks for the attention will try to update you more medical terms in next article.

Written By:

Priyanka Massey

Certified Infection Control Nurse

Professional Trainer

Ingenious Healthcare Consultants Pvt.Ltd. 

PROMOTING HYGIENE TO MINIMIZE THE INFECTIONS

Promoting Hygiene To Minimize the Infections  

                           

Introduction

Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI's) can occur following direct contact within healthcare settings or following surgery. These infections, the majority of which are preventable, can cause significant harm to those affected, increase hospital stay and put added pressure on the NHS.

There are many reasons a patient may develop a Health care associated infections, including weakened immune deference due to treatment for cancer or leukemia, complex surgical operations, insertion of medical devices such as catheters, or the over-use of antibiotics. The latter can result in the development of resistance such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) making treatment with common antibiotics difficult. The increase in patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart and kidney problems, and the increase in the elderly population are also contributing factors that predispose patients to infections.

Infection prevention and control measures, such as appropriate hand hygiene, environmental cleanliness, basic precautions during invasive procedures, and education of staff, patients and visitors, are simple and inexpensive measures to help reduce the risk of HCAI's.


How infections are spread/Mode of transmission

When healthcare staff are educated about the ways infections are spread it helps them to decide what preventative measures they need to take and they are better placed to inform patients. Spread of infection requires three elements. The first is an infectious agent - a bacteria, virus, fungi or protozoa. The source may be the patients’ own flora, other patients, staff or visitors, or contaminated equipment. The second element is a susceptible host –someone prone to infections because of an underlying disease, surgical procedures or indwelling devices, and the final factor is a means of transmission.

                      

There are four main routes of infection transmission:

Contact transmission (direct or indirect):

Direct: body surface to body surface contact and physical transfer of microorganism between an infected or colonized (carrier) person to another or from one site to another in the same individual.

Indirect: contact between a person and contaminated surface or object.

Airborne /droplet transmission:

Droplet transmission: large droplets produced during coughing, sneezing, talking and suctioning generate droplets that land on surfaces which when touched can contaminate hands.

Airborne transmission: smaller micro-organisms, contaminated water particles or airborne dust particles containing the infectious agent are dispersed by air currents then inhaled or deposited onto horizontal surfaces, equipment etc.

Food and water (Fecal–oral) transmission:

Organisms can be transmitted via the food we eat and handle e.g. Campylobacter on raw chicken, by inappropriate handling of contaminated raw food or inadequate cooking. Cross-infection can occur via contaminated surfaces or infected food handlers if their hands are not cleaned after using the toilet. Water provides an ideal breeding ground for some micro- organisms, which can then be ingested, or as in Legionella inhaled.

Vector borne transmission:

These are infections transmitted by, flies, mosquitoes, and rats.

Hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is the single most important measure in reducing the risk of transmission of micro-organisms from one person to another or from one site to another on the same person. The World Health Organisation advises that cleaning hands promptly and as thoroughly as possible between patient contacts and after contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and contaminated equipment, is essential in order to minimize the risk of cross-infection in healthcare.

                        
The Infection Prevention Society advises that effective hand hygiene involves the use of soap and water or alcohol hand rub. Liquid soap and warm running water can be used to mechanically remove transient micro-organisms from the hands and is perfectly acceptable for the vast majority of healthcare interventions. An alcohol-based product can be used for general hand hygiene in place of a hand-wash but only if hands are visibly clean. Alcohol rub, soap, water and paper towels must be available to encourage hand hygiene, and sinks for hand washing should be used for only that and not washing tea cups, dentures etc. A poster demonstrating the correct hand wash/rub techniques should be displayed at each clinical hand wash basin and a poster encouraging hand washing should be displayed in all patient and visitor toilets.

When building or refurbishing any health care environment provision of proper hand washing facilities must be a priority, therefore the Infection Prevention and Control Nurse (IPCN) should be involved at planning stage.

Environmental cleanliness in healthcare

Contaminated healthcare surfaces play a huge role in the transmission of dangerous pathogens, including Clostridium difficile and MRSA. 

                        


These pathogens are capable of prolonged survival on surfaces, therefore appropriate cleaning of those surfaces and equipment which patients and healthcare staff touch, is necessary to reduce transmission. Frequently touched surfaces, such as taps, door handles and light switches are more likely to harbor and transmit micro-organisms, so it’s important to ensure these surfaces are cleaned frequently in line with specifications for cleanliness in the NHS.

Public perception is very important and if the environment in which patients or their relatives are cared for appears unclean, it can lead to the perception that care is equally bad.

What patients and visitors can do to help in preventing HCAI's
While it is commonly perceived that HCAI's are attributable to healthcare staff, it is worth remembering that patients and their visitors also contribute. There are some simple things that patients and visitors should be encouraged to do in the fight to prevent transmission of infections.

Patients can: wash hands after using the toilet and before meals; cover mouth and nose with tissue when sneezing or coughing, bin the tissue and wash hands; if socializing at another patient’s bed space, clean hands afterwards; ask staff if they have washed their hands and/or changed their gloves before doing your care; wash/shower daily using own toiletries; keep locker and table top tidy and free from clutter to help with cleaning; do not interfere with drips, drains or dressings; and report any concerns about cleanliness or care standard.

Additionally, visitors can: use the hand sanitizer when entering and leaving the hospital ward or department; not visit if you are unwell especially with colds/flu or stomach upsets; avoid bringing very young children to visit; no not bring in fresh flowers or plants; speak to staff before bringing food into the hospital; and report any concerns about cleanliness or patient care.

It is only by staff, patients and visitors working together to do their bit that we will win the fight to reduce HCAI's.


WHO Recommendations: -

                        


Conclusion: - Good Hygiene Practices Reducing the Spread of Infections and Viruses. The most important way to reduce the spread of infections is hand washing - always wash regularly with soap Providing boxes of tissues and encourage their use.


                        

Written By : -
Priyanka Massey 
Certified Infection Control Nurse,
Professional Trainer
Ingenious Health Care Consultants Pvt.Ltd.

Thanks for the attention.
Reference taken from Wikipedia

Operation Theater

         

Operation Theater 

                          

Introduction

An operating theater is a facility within a hospital where surgical operations are carried out in an aseptic environment. Historically, the term "Operating Theater" referred to a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery. 

Operation Theater is a facility within a hospital where surgical operations are carried out in a sterile environment.The Operation Theater department pride themselves on delivering high quality of care in a clean and friendly environment, delivered by teams with a vast range of expertise, for each specialty.

An operation theater complex is the "heart" of any major surgical hospital. An operating theater, operating room, surgery suite or a surgery center is a room within a hospital within which surgical and other operations are carried out. Operating theater were so-called in the United Kingdom because they traditionally consisted of semi-circular amphitheaters to allow students to observe the medical procedures .

The patient is the center point of a functioning OT complex. He / she is in isolation for varying times, away from his near and dear ones and is physically sick. Efforts are directed to maintain vital functions, prevent infections / promote healing with safety, comfort and economy.

A room in hospital which contains an operating table or similar device, generally accommodating one patient at a time, during which, under the direct supervision of a medical or dental practitioner, the patient undergoes an operative procedure for the prevention, cure, relief or diagnosis of disease, or in pregnancy, childbirth. An operating theater must: allow positioning of the patient on the table or device so as to render the operation possible or convenient; have adjustable lighting powerful enough to permit fine or delicate work under aseptic conditions; provide sterile instruments and facilities for staff to change clothing; provide deeper pain relief than the basic sedation administered in the ward or local anesthetic.

The establishment and working of the Operation Theater (O.T.) needs specialized planning and execution and is not a simple civil engineering work. A "civil-mechanical-electrical-electronic- bio medical" combo effort driven and coordinated by the needs, preferences and safety of the medical/ surgical team forms the basis for starting and maintaining an operation theater. Anesthesiologists, by virtue of their knowledge of the intricacies of physiology, physics and biomedical aspects of medicine and constant proximity to the operation theater should preferably be involved from the early stages of planning of operating theaters.



Purpose of Operation Theater Complex


OT complexes are designed and built to carry out investigative, diagnostic, therapeutic and palliative procedures of varying degrees of incisiveness. Many such set ups are customized to the requirements based on size of hospital, patient turnover and may be specialty specific. The aim is to provide the maximum benefit for maximum number of patients arriving to the operation theater.. Both the present as well as future needs should be kept in mind while planning.

Different zones of O.T Complex 

The location and flow of the patients, the staff and the materials form the three broad groups to be considered during all stages of design.

Four zones can be described in an O T complex, based on varying degrees of cleanliness, in which the bacteriological count progressively diminishes from the outer to the inner zones (operating area) and is maintained by a differential decreasing positive pressure ventilation gradient from the inner zone to the outer zone.

(1) Protective zone: It includes

Change rooms for all medical and paramedical staff with conveniences.
Transfer bay for patient, material & equipment's.
Rooms for administrative staff.
Stores & records.
Pre & post-operative rooms.
I.C.U. and P.A.C.U.
Sterile stores.

(2) Clean zone : Connects protective zone to aseptic zone and has other areas also like

Stores & cleaner room.
Equipment store room.
Maintenance workshop.
Kitchenette (pantry).
Firefighting device room.
Emergency exits.
Service room for staff.
Close circuit TV control area.

(3) Aseptic zone - Includes operation rooms (sterile)

(4) Disposal zone - Disposal areas from each OR & corridor lead to disposal zone.




   Sub areas (excluding OT place)

(1) Pre-operative check in area (reception)- This is important with respect to maintaining privacy, for changing from street clothes to gown and to provide lockers and lavatories for staff.

(2) Holding area- This area is planned for IV line insertion, preparation, catheter / gastric tube insertion, connection of monitors, & shall have O 2 and suction lines. Facility for CPR should be available in this area.

(3) Induction room - (anesthetic room). It should have all facilities as in OT, but there is controversy as to its need. One for each OT is required, ideally each is a duplicate of the other in each floor.

The anesthetic room will provide a more tranquil atmosphere to the patient than the OT. It should provide space for anesthetic trolleys and equipment and should be located with direct access to circulation corridors and ready access to the operating room. It will also allow cleaning, testing and storing of anesthesia equipment. It should contain work benches, sink(s). It should have sufficient power outlets and medical gas panels for testing of equipment.

(4) Post anesthetic care units (PACU) - preferably adjacent to recovery room. These should contain a medication station, hand washing station, nurse station, storage space for stretchers, supplies and monitors / equipment and gas, suction outlets and ventilator. Additionally 80 sq ft (7.43 sq m) for each patient bed, clearance of 5 ft (1.5 m) between beds and 4 ft (1.22m) between patient bed sides and adjacent walls should be planned.

(5) Staff room - Medical staff Men and women change dress from street cloth to OT attire; lockers and lavatory are essential; rest room TV, etc. are desirable.

(6) Sanitary facility for staff- One wash basin and one western closet (WC) should be provided for 8-10 persons. Showers and their number is a matter of local decision. Inclusion of toilet facilities in changing rooms is not acceptable; they should be located in an adjacent space .

(7) The anesthesia gas / cylinder manifold room / storage area- A definite area to be designated. It should be in a cool, clean room that is constructed of fire resistant materials. Conductive flooring must be present but is not required if non inflammable gases are stored. Adequate ventilation to allow leaking gases to escape, safety labels and separate places for empty and full cylinders to be allocated.

(8) Offices - for staff nurse and anesthesia staff- The office should allow access to both unrestricted and semi-restricted areas as frequent communication with public is needed.

(9) Rest rooms- Pleasant and quiet rest for staff should be arranged either as one large room for all grades of staff or as separate rooms both have merits. Comfortable chairs, one writing table, a book case etc., may be arranged.

(10) Laboratory - Small lab. with refrigerator for pathologist to be arranged.

(11) Seminar room- Since staff cannot leave an OT complex easily, it is better to have a seminar room within the OT complex. Intra-departmental discussions, teaching and training sessions for staff (with audio-visual aids) may be conducted here.

(12) Store room- This is designed to store large but less frequently used equipment in the OT. There should be storage space for special equipment after cleaning.

(13) Theater sterile supply unit (TSSU)- Within this area, following are desirable : -

Temperature between 18 0 -22 0 C, humidity of 40%­-50% is the aim.
Air conditioned with 10-12 air exchanges per hour
Storage of sterile drapes, sponges, gloves, gowns and other items ready to use.
Option to store in from one side and remove from other side.
Proper inventory to prevent running out of stock.

(14) Scrub room- This is planned to be built within the restricted area. Elbow operated or infrared sensor operated taps / water source is ideal. It is essential to have non slippery flooring in this area.

Types of O.T Complex

There are three main categories of operating the areas 

The single theater suite with OT, scrub-up and gowning, anesthesia room, trolley preparation, utility and exit bay plus staff change and limited ancillary accommodation.

The twin Theater suite with facilities similar to 1(one), but with duplicated ancillary accommodation immediate to each OT, sometimes sharing a small post anesthesia recovery area.

OT complexes of three or more OT's. with ancillary accommodation including post anesthesia recovery, reception, porter's desk, sterile store and staff change.

                         

Operating Room Equipment's 

The operating table in the center of the room can be raised, lowered, and tilted in any direction.

The operating room lights are over the table to provide bright light, without shadows, during surgery.

The anesthesia machine is at the head of the operating table. This machine has tubes that connect to the patient to assist them in breathing during surgery, and built-in monitors that help control the mixture of gases in the breathing circuit.

The anesthesia cart is next to the anesthesia machine, It contains the medications, equipment, and other supplies that the anesthesiologist may need.

Sterile instruments to be used during surgery are arranged on a stainless steel table.

An electronic monitor (which records the heart rate and respiratory rate by adhesive patches that are placed on the patient's chest).

The pulse-oximeter machine attaches to the patient's finger with an elastic band aid. It measures the amount of oxygen contained in the blood.

Automated blood pressure measuring machine that automatically inflates the blood pressure cuff on patient's arm.


An electrocute machine uses high frequency electrical signals to cauterize or seal off blood vessels and may also be used to cut through tissue with a minimal amount of bleeding.


Surgeon and assistants' equipment's 

People in the operating room wear P.P.E (personal protective equipment) to help prevent bacteria from infecting the surgical incision. This P.P.E includes the following:

Similar to normal clean-rooms, germ-less.

A protective cap covering their hair.

Masks over their lower face, covering their mouths and noses with minimal gaps to prevent inhalation of plume or airborne microbes
Shades or glasses over their eyes, including specialized colored glasses for use with different lasers. a fiber-optic headlight may be attached for greater visibility.

Sterile gloves; usually latex-free due to latex sensitivity which affects some health care workers and patients.

Long gowns, with the bottom of the gown no closer than six inches to the ground.

Protective covers on their shoes.

If x-rays are expected to be used, lead aprons/neck covers are used to prevent overexposure to radiation.


The surgeon may also wear special glasses that help him/her to see more clearly. The circulating nurse and anesthesiologist will not wear a gown in the OR because they are not a part of the sterile team. They must keep a distance of 12-16 inches from any sterile object, person, or field.

                             


Written By:
Priyanka Massey
Certified Infection Control Nurse & Professional Trainer
Ingenious Health Care Consultants Pvt.Ltd.

Reference taken from Wikipedia
Thanks for Your attention.