S.C.O.P.E. in Depth

These five infection prevention areas - Shield, Clean, Organize, Prevent, and Eliminate - provide you with an easy-to-understand blueprint that will assist in the fight against HAIs.

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		SHIELD The shield is perhaps one of the oldest forms of protection that dates back to prehistoric times. Its purpose has not changed much since then; a shield protects against danger, risk, or injury. Shield yourself and your patients against the dangers of germs, bacteria, and viruses with solutions designed to minimize risk — and the possibility of HAIs.

		CLEAN Cleaning is all about going on the offensive against germs and the other causes of infectious disease. When it comes to the safety of your patients, there really is no such thing an overly rigorous cleaning protocol. What is the best tool for the job? Take a look at all of the cleaning products within this section. Don't think that one cleaning supply or product is sufficient enough to use alone. You may want to stock a diverse armada of solutions and to clean frequently, scheduling different cleaners for different times and areas. Cleaning isn't just killing germs; it's also not being dirty. Hand sanitizers are breakthrough products that are high on efficacy and low on dirtiness. Foam takes sanitizers to the next level, for all-over clean hands.

		ORGANIZE You're treating a patient who is showing signs of a C. diff infection. You need to apply sanitizer, gloves, and disinfect a few areas in the patient's room, to prevent the spread of the infection. Problem: the glove box in the room is empty and the nearest new box is in the supply room. The bottle of sanitizer appears to be missing and you aren't sure where the cleaning staff keeps the heavy-duty disinfectant. The clock is ticking and every second lost is one that gives infection causing microbes the chance to wreak havoc. This means that sanitizers, disinfectants, gloves, and masks are not the only solutions you need to fight off HAIs. You need dispensers. You need bins. You need racks. You need organizers. You absolutely need whatever is going keep your supply of infection fighting products nearby and where everyone knows where to find them.

		PREVENT Effective infection control communication goes beyond the spoken word. Proper visual cues have a place within any plan to reduce HAIs – to remind staff of their duties and to sustain efforts at all times. Provide "at a glance" ways to indicate where items belong, how many items belong at a given location, standard operating procedures, status of work in progress, and any other information critical to your facility.

		ELIMINATE Waste is inevitable. And it's a potentially hazardous source of injury and infection, even as it makes its way out of your facility. Eliminating that potential is crucial part of waste management, in terms of an overall infection control scheme. Separate waste to be quickly and visually identified as bio hazardous or regular waste. You need safe containers and bags to enclose infectious possibility from the moment it leaves your facility to when it is permanently discarded. Whenever you encounter tissue or syringe waste, think tag it and bag it. Get up to speed on your facility's waste management policies and discard infectious waste properly.