Hospital highlights International Infection Prevention Week Published Oct. 16, 2008 ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- The 3rd Medical Group Hospital will join other hospitals around Alaska and the U.S. by highlighting infection prevention as part of National Infection Prevention Week Sunday through Oct. 25. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the third week in October as National Infection Prevention Week and called all federal, state, and local government agencies, health organizations, communications, media, and people to take part in educational activities and programs during this designated week. Since its creation, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has continued the tradition and extended the scope to an international level. To bring greater attention to the critical need to protect patients and the public from the risk of infection, APIC has urged every state to recognize International Infection Prevention. On September 24, 2008, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin made the proclamation for Alaska, calling upon residents, healthcare providers, and healthcare facilities of Alaska to renew their efforts to prevent healthcare-associated infections, thereby reducing the burden of human suffering and disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 2 million patients annually acquire an infection while hospitalized in U.S. hospitals for other health problems and that 88,000 die as a direct or indirect result of these infections. In addition to the human toll, the CDC reports that efforts to treat these infections add nearly $5 billion to healthcare costs every year. Infection prevention and control is an institutional priority at the 3rd Medical Group, Joint Venture Hospital. According to Col. Paul Friedrichs, 3rd Medical Group commander, the hospital is committed to patient safety and adheres to evidence-based strategies and practices to reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections. The facility is "targeting zero" -- meaning that every infection is treated as if it should never happen, but when it does, it will be investigated for the root cause. Additionally, it means holding everyone accountable for healthcare associated infections. In order to prevent as many healthcare associated infections as possible, there will be zero tolerance for not adhering to infection prevention measures. Throughout the week, the hospital will commemorate International Infection Prevention Week with activities designed to educate patients, visitors and healthcare personnel about the importance of reducing the risk of infection. From The Joint Commission Resources, Speak Up Campaign, here are five easy things you can do to fight the spread of infection. 1. Clean your hands. · Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands really well for at least 15 seconds. Rub your palms, fingernails, in between your fingers, and the backs of your hands. · Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your fingers, until your hands are dry. · Clean your hands before touching or eating food. Clean them after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is ill, or play with a pet. 2. Make sure health care providers clean their hands or wear gloves. · Doctors, nurses, dentists and other health care providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they treat you, ask them if they've cleaned their hands. · Health care providers should wear clean gloves when they perform tasks such as taking throat cultures, pulling teeth, taking blood, touching wounds or body fluids, and examining your mouth or private parts. Don't be afraid to ask them if they should wear gloves. 3. Cover your mouth and nose. Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs. When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more! Cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection to others. · Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. · If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or hands. If you use your hands, clean them right away. 4. If you are sick, avoid close contact with others. · If you are sick, stay away from other people or stay home. Don't shake hands or touch others. · When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there's anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room. ociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 5. Get shots to avoid disease and fight the spread of infection. Make sure that your vaccinations are current--even for adults. Check with your doctor about shots you may need. Vaccinations are available to prevent these diseases: ·Chicken pox · Mumps · Measles · Diphtheria · Tetanus · Hepatitis · Shingles · Meningitis · Flu (also known as influenza) · Whooping cough (also known as Pertussis) · German measles (also known as Rubella) · Pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae) · Human papillomavirus (HPV)