Patients enter an Infusion Center seeking medical care in the fight of their lives. The miracles of modern medicine are delivered to these patients in an environment designed to soothe and relieve anxiety. This is the purpose of Vytis Shield, too. We want to create a feeling of peace and wellbeing when patients and visitors see our shield.
While an environment may look clean and well cared for, the invisible bioburden on the surfaces may tell a different story. This facility has invested in good equipment and staff. They appear to be doing a good job of maintaining cleanliness, as well as adhering to protocols.
Regardless of how well things appear to the eye, the checklist surface swabs tell a different story. Common equipment in an Infusion Center was sampled over the course of three days. These samples were plated on a Blood Agar (example below) and tabulated. This photo of one agar plate highlights the diversity of organisms in the environment, as well as their randomness. Two of the three samples here were heavily contaminated, while the third was completely clear. All three surfaces sampled appeared the same to the naked eye.
The chart, “Average Colony Counts Pre – and Post – Barrier Coating”, highlights four essential elements of every facility. There is a striking difference in colony forming units before application and after in the environment. This reduction in environmental bioburden directly relates to the feeling of assurance of both staff and patients that a facility is doing all that they can to keep patients safe.
