EEE- LEARNING; engaging the novice traditional student in E learning

How do you engage the mature, traditionally taught, CiPD student into the new world of Elearning? The increase in political and public awareness, in tandem with open communication channels in the NHS, has seen more media attention being drawn to infection prevention and control. It is a global subject and affects all avenues of healthcare. The classroom taught module attracts healthcare professionals from a range of clinical areas. Working within healthcare, service demands often mean post-registration students are unable to access study leave due to service demands. Development and implementation of an E Learning module seeks to reach a wider audience, while having minimal impact on staffing levels. Healthcare workers need to move from independence to interdependence in their learning if they are to develop as self-directed, life-long learners. If communication is at the heart or educational interaction, then Elearning should be viewed as a transformative process that provides opportunities to improve the learning experience. This paper seeks to explore, through reflective practice, how to simplify and normalise the student experience when first engaging in Elearning activity, through provision of induction and a guide to accessing the study materials

Lifting the lid: a clinical audit on commode cleaning

Many healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are preventable by infection control procedures designed to interrupt the transmission of organisms from a source. Commodes are in use constantly throughout healthcare facilities. Therefore commode surfaces are constantly handled, and any pathogens present have the potential to be transferred to not only other surfaces but also, more importantly, to patients, thus compromising patient safety. In order to examine the effectiveness and thoroughness of cleaning commodes an audit was undertaken to assess compliance with evidence-based practice. This audit demonstrates a cycle which includes defining best practice, implementing best practice, monitoring best practice and taking action to improve practice. The audit results confirmed an issue that the authors had long suspected. That is, that commodes allocated to individual patients are not always cleaned after every use. Using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence as an indicator of organic soiling also demonstrated that commodes that were considered clean were not always cleaned to a high standard. Implementing the audit recommendations improves staff knowledge through education, standardises cleaning procedures and ultimately improves patient safety

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

When to wear personal protective equipment to prevent infection.

In clinical practice, we constantly have moral and ethical deliberations to consider, as we strive to provide our patients with an environment that is microbiologically safe (Cochrane 2009). Nurses should endeavour to practice in a safe and competent manner (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] 2018). However, you can only be a safe practitioner if you are not only equipped with essential clinical skills, but also have an understanding of, and apply at all times, the theoretical knowledge that underpins those skills. This article serves as an aide memoire to the correct use of personal protective equipment

From application to completion: An Overview of the BSc(Hons) Practice Development (infection Control) Programme

To update attendees on current degree level Infection prevention and control education provision within the North East

Meeting the challenge of infection control

In today’s health care environment, many individuals are susceptible to infections. This impacts upon patient recovery and considerably increases costs to the NHS (National Audit Office 2000). Infections do not recognise institutional or societal boundaries. All health care workers (HCWs) must embrace the fact that the observance and compliance with the standard principles of infection control practice with all patients at all times will assist in minimising the transmission of infection to patients, staff and visitors (Pratt et al 2001)

Infection control audit of hand hygiene facilities

The socio-economic costs of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) are continually rising. The focus for reducing the incidence of HCAIs should be on maintaining a microbiologically safe environment. Hand hygiene is of paramount importance in preventing the transmission of infection, as it is a low-tech, low-cost, effective intervention. Hand hygiene is as important in the non-acute care setting as in the acute setting, as community or non-acute patients are often admitted to acute facilities. Conclusion This audit, conducted in 2000-2001, examined hand hygiene facilities at one non-acute trust. The results confirmed that although handwashing is considered the most important factor in preventing the spread of infection, it cannot always be carried out successfully if facilities are inadequate. Recommendations were made that will encourage safe practice, improve service delivery and raise clinical standards

Infection Prevention And Control Practitioner Core Competences & How They Interact With Revalidation of NMC Registration

TO PROVIDE INSIGHT (and examples) INTO HOW COMPETENCES AND REVALIDATION CAN BE INTERTWINE

Precepts of infection prevention and control

Infection control is the responsibility of everyone who works within health care systems (Department of Health (DH) 2006a). In this chapter the theories that underpin high-quality infection control practice will be explored. The intention is to enable you to understand the theoretical components and how to adopt these into your everyday practice. It is anticipated that your current thinking about infection control will be challenged and in doing so, you will have a more informed perspective on this speciality