The Preventionist

Posted By Chris on December 29, 2010

Yesterday I wrote a scenario having to do with a new Infection Control designee and some of the typical confusion surrounding abnormal culture reports, what they mean, and what to do with the information. Here are a few suggestions:   

• When you see a questionable culture report the first thing to do is a thorough assessment of the patient.
• You have been assigned the role of Infection Control Nurse; don’t rely on someone else to do the assessment. Your decision as to how to handle the information you have received will be based on accurate, clinical findings you should be able to stand behind.   
• Document your findings and notify the physician; give him or her, a clinically meaningful report. Remember you are not just the messenger here; you are communicating medical information that will determine a course of treatment for a patient. (I know this sounds stern but, it is so true). 
• If your assessment indicates there are positive signs and symptoms of infection, be sure to stress each one of them to the physician.
• If your assessment lacks obvious signs and symptoms, stress that as well; a positive culture with no signs and symptoms is just as important to the total clinical picture; Why? Because the patient may be  Colonized (link) with an organism, but not infected; in this case they probably do not require antimicrobials usually reserved for the treatment of true infections.
• Share your information and assessment with your DON and any staff involved in the care of the patient.

See earlier references to Your Infection Control Manual (link) the guide to your facility poliicy and Procedures in Infection Prevention and Control.  

You’ve done very well.

Categories: Infection Prevention in LTC
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