Breaking
the Chain
of Infection
By John Scherberger
T
he world around us is changing.
Because of SARS CoV2/COVID-19,
This article
we are reminded daily of the basics that
is the third
keep you and me at our healthiest.
in a year-
These are time tested and proven ways
long series
to manage most pathogens and the risk
describing
of infection. There are many different
an Industry
germs and infections inside and outside
journey led by
of the healthcare setting. Despite the
environmental
variety of viruses and bacteria, microbes
services and
spread from person to person through
infection
a common series of events. Therefore,
prevention
to prevent pathogens from infecting
toward
more people, we must break the chain
better patient
of infection. No matter the germ, there
outcomes,
are six points at which to break the
quality and cost
chain prevent infections. The six links
savings.
include the infectious agent, reservoir,
portal of exit, mode of transmission,
portal of entry, and susceptible host.
A short video on breaking the chain
of infection from the Association for
the Healthcare Environment (AHE)
View Breaking the
and the Association of Professionals
Chain of Infection
in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Video
(APIC) provides reliable guidance on
the way to stop germs from spreading is by interrupting
this chain at any link. Following this guidance results in a
person becoming a “chain-breaker:”
Editor’s note
• Cleans and incorporates excellent and frequent
hand washing
• Stays up to date on vaccines (including the flu shot)
• Covers coughs and sneezes
• Stays home when sick
• Follows the rules for standard and contact isolation
• Uses personal protective equipment the right way
• Cleans and disinfects their own spaces after use
• And use antibiotics wisely to prevent antibiotic resistance.
Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to
prevent infections. Cleaning your hands can prevent the
spread of germs, including those that are resistant to anti-
biotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat.
When we need good guidance, we often turn to
reputable and authoritative sources. These authorities
have demonstrated effective, evidence-based practices.
We come to rely on these authorities, they dispel rumors,
cut through obfuscation, and tell us the straight truth.
40
Six Links That Can Break the Chain
1 INFECTIOUS 2 RESERVOIR 3 PORTAL
4 MODE OF 5 PORTAL 6 SUSCEPTIBLE
AGENT
TRANSMISSION
OF ENTRY
OF EXIT
HOST
Often the truth is not what we want to hear, but rather,
what we need to hear. Some of these sources we come
to rely on are: CDC; CMS; The Joint Commission; World
Health Organization; APIC; AHE; AORN; Healthcare
Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC); Hohenstein
Institute (RAL certification) and the Textile Rental Services
Association (TRSA).
The previous two articles of this ESOP series noted that
it’s too easy to deviate from the basics, and for a variety
of reasons. That is why the ESOP Project drew so much
positive attention as it was filling a void and connecting
the often-overlooked details. The Project revealed that
Human Factors Engineering (HFE) had been often
overlooked or discarded outright. HFE incorporates the
design of products, programs, systems, or services, in such
a way that, when followed, removes the frequency and
opportunities to deviate from basic best practices. Enter
ESOP. As mentioned, a group of experts in their craft within
healthcare, joined to form a scientific workgroup focused
on environmental services/ infection prevention, and the
optimization of cleaning through evidence-based facts.
In this article, which continues online, we introduce you
to a group of individuals whose sole goal was doing what’s
right for the patient and for the system that supports that
care. Joining this team was a group of healthcare facilities,
ready to embark on a journey and implementation of
these thoughts and ideas crafted into a playbook of best
practices. This compilation within the Playbook brought
together resources from around the world into one place.
These facilities were ready and willing to implement the
various features and provide honest feedback over the
next two years to ensure this living, breathing, and scalable
Playbook was genuinely world-class.
This article continues online at:
https://www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com/breaking-
the-chain-of-infection/
april 2020 • www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com