Cold comfort

Article Abstract:

An audit of the 15 ice-making machines in a hospital revealed a range of procedural inadequacies likely to cause infections in patients. Staff seemed unaware of links between ice-making machines and infection, the purchasing policy was not standardized, and defrosting, cleaning and maintenance procedures were inadequate. Swabs revealed four types of mould in the machines. Recommendations include the implementation of training for staff on the dangers of contaminated ice, and the establishment of standards for machine maintenance and recording of defrosting and cleaning.

Health aspects, Hospitals, Refrigeration equipment, Ice

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Now wash your hands ...

Article Abstract:

It is vital that children learn from an early age that personal hygiene plays a key role in infection control. For this reason, personal hygiene must be given a high priority within school health promotion programmes. Work on personal hygiene can include teaching children to identify factors that could transmit diseases, such as inadequate hand washing, and can also tackle more complex issues like immunity and immunization. On a practical level, children can be encouraged to wash their hands regularly and to comb their hair at least once a day.

Analysis, Pediatric diseases, Health education, Infection in children

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Wasted talent

Article Abstract:

Provision must be made to introduce a structured set of guidelines concerning the assessment by managers of risk to patients from infection. Control of infection by risk management nurses is not regulated in either the UK or the USA. A recognition of the role played by infection control nurses would improve their status and limit the number of litigation cases resulting from patients become infected during their stay in hospital.

Cross infection

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