Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1173622
20 Executive Briefing Despite this multilayered approach to patient safety, opportunities for errors still exist at every level. Many errors can be hard to identify because they may be small or they may occur intermittently. Ideally, an error at one level will be stopped at the next level, which prevents a serious problem from arising. For example, a manager may not enforce infection control surveillance at the team level, but individual employees may be personally committed to handwashing and following other patient safety procedures. When errors occur at every level, it can create a domino effect in which a series of errors ultimately leads to patient harm. The "Swiss cheese model" of error causation offers providers a useful framework for risk management. 3 If each level of operations is similar to a piece of Swiss cheese, when the holes align across the layers, errors can easily pass by organizational, technical, team and individual protocols, resulting in infections and negative patient outcomes. The Swiss cheese model of error causation underscores that human error cannot be eliminated entirely. With this in mind, hospitals must implement resilient interventions that work in any environment, regardless of context. The power of these solutions is that they work even when "holes" in other infection control initiatives allow errors to occur. Continuously biocidal materials are one example of a resilient infection control intervention. Research has found that the bacteria responsible for the most healthcare-associated infections can live at least five to seven days on surfaces. 4 In addition, employees with contaminated hands can transfer infection agents to multiple surfaces. Relying solely on human cleaning and infection control processes isn't enough. Continuously biocidal materials are self-sanitizing surfaces that eliminate infection-causing bacteria, even after repeated contamination. They reduce the hospital's environmental bioburden without introducing new processes or changing existing procedures. This is essential given healthcare workers' already overloaded schedules. Continuously biocidal materials are also low maintenance. Once installed, they work around the clock and even are effective on resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter. Conclusion Both the human and financial costs of HAIs are significant. According to the CDC, on any given day around one in 31 hospital patients has at least one HAI. HAIs increase the average hospital stay by eight days. From an economic perspective, some research suggests the average cost per infection is $13,973 and the increased total cost per patient is $40,000. In a world where human errors can never be eliminated entirely, combatting HAIs requires a multi-pronged approach that incorporates elements of behavioral science, organizational design and innovative infection control products, such as biocidal materials. When deployed in tandem, these elements create an infection control program resilient to human error.n Environmental cleaning Handwashing Decreasing catheter days Lab work Pa�ent screening Pa�ent decontamina�on Uv disinfec�on Hydrogen peroxide Redesigned products Copper-infused materials Bare below the elbows Hand sani�zer So�ware Single-use products Air scrubbers Water treatment Pharmaceu�cals How hands-on are infec�on interven�ons? The more human processes required, the greater the risk of human error. 4 Kramer A. How long to nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infectious Diseases 6: 130. 3 Reason, J. Human error: models and management. British Medical Journal. 320 (7237): 768–770. EOS cu (Cupron Enhanced EOS) is a Preventive|Biocidal Surface™ developed and man- ufactured by EOS Surfaces. The only synthetic hard surface EPA-registered for public health claims, EOS cu continuously kills harmful bacteria* within two hours. Peer reviewed published studies conducted by hospitals show statistically significant reductions in bioburden and statistically significant reductions in both C. difficile and MDRO infection rates.