Eric Pifer, MD, chief medical officer for El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif., has deployed a three-pronged strategy for reducing the incidence of C. diff infections at the hospital, according to a Mountain View Voice news report.
In the report, Dr. Pifer said he is focused on bringing down cases of C. diff by raising awareness about the infection; implementing a "rigorous protocol" involving thorough disinfection of all rooms previously occupied by patients with C. diff; and urging hospital physicians to be more cognizant when prescribing antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors.
Physicians sometimes too frequently prescribe antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, which can lead to drug resistance, Dr. Pifer said. Without drawing any hard data, he suspects a large number of the C. diff cases at the hospitals stem from elderly patients who use proton pump inhibitors before being admitted to the hospital, according to the news report.
Read the news report about El Camino Hospital's infection program.
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In the report, Dr. Pifer said he is focused on bringing down cases of C. diff by raising awareness about the infection; implementing a "rigorous protocol" involving thorough disinfection of all rooms previously occupied by patients with C. diff; and urging hospital physicians to be more cognizant when prescribing antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors.
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Physicians sometimes too frequently prescribe antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, which can lead to drug resistance, Dr. Pifer said. Without drawing any hard data, he suspects a large number of the C. diff cases at the hospitals stem from elderly patients who use proton pump inhibitors before being admitted to the hospital, according to the news report.
Read the news report about El Camino Hospital's infection program.
Related Articles on Infections:
Nevada Hospital Safety Bills Would Require Transparency
Study: Peripheral Venous Catheter-Related Infections Often Overlooked
Milwaukee Hospital Cut Funding From Infection Control, Physician Claims
