By 
Keith Negley | Fotosearch, Getty Images
As a nurse, you see all too closely the effects of our ongoing battle with hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and antibiotic resistance. And the stakes have never been higher.
In April, the World Health Organization issued a global surveillance report warning that antimicrobial resistance is “so serious that it threatens the achievements of modern medicine.” Without urgent action, the authors warn, “we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.”
In the Fall 2014 issue of Scrubs, we armed you with evidence-based steps to take at home and at work to prevent the spread of infections and curb antibiotic resistance. Now, check out more on our war against germs…and what you can do to help win it.
Germs, germs everywhere:
- Who’s to blame for MRSA?
- Middle Eastern virus spreading due to lack of infection prevention
- Should fresh flowers be allowed in hospitals?
Winning the war at work and at home:
- How NOT to get hurt at work
- Could these two products reduce the spread of germs in the hospital?
- When germs hitch a ride…on your scrubs
- Keeping germs off your hair, hands and face
- Nurse bling: the Scough, a scarf to filter germs
Wash ’em well:
- Video: Nurses show off unique “Gangnam Style” of hand washing
- Video: Watch a hilarious take on the importance of hand washing
- Coming clean about hand washing
Achoo! Avoid the flu:
- The top 5 ways nurses avoid catching the flu
- Flu season factoids that shock even nurses!
- 8 crazy things nurses do during flu season
Arm yourself with knowledge:
For more information, check out:
- The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthcare Associated Infections
- PBS: “Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria”
- An excerpt from Missing Microbes by Martin Blaser, MD
