Page 12 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2018

INDUSTRY UPDATE
materials’ physical form. The posters can be displayed in a lab or work environment.
Surgeon General Says More People
Should Carry Naloxone
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, M.D., MPH, issued a public health advisory April 5 in which he says more Americans should carry naloxone, the drug that can reverse an opioid over- dose and thus possibly save a life. It is already carried by many first responders, such as EMTs and police officers, but Adams is now recommending that more individuals, including family, friends, and those who are personally at risk for an opioid overdose, keep the drug on hand.
According to HHS, an estimated 2.1 million people in the Unit- ed States have opioid use disorder. Opioid overdose deaths are rap- idly rising and, since 2010, the number of opioid overdose deaths has doubled from more than 21,000 to more than 42,000 in 2016, with the sharpest increase occurring among deaths related to fen- tanyl and fentanyl analogs.
“Each day, we lose 115 Americans to an opioid overdose – that’s one person every 12.5 minutes,” Adams said. “It is time to make sure more people have access to this lifesaving medi- cation, because 77 percent of opioid overdose deaths occur outside of a medical setting and more than half occur at home. To manage opioid addiction and prevent future overdoses, increased naloxone availability must occur in conjunction with expanded access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.”
In most states, people can walk into a pharmacy and request naloxone even if they don’t already have a prescription, and most states have laws designed to protect health care professionals for prescribing and dispensing naloxone from civil and criminal li- abilities, as well as Good Samaritan laws to protect people who administer naloxone or call for help during an opioid overdose emergency. The FDA-approved drug is covered by most insurance plans, and it is easy to use and safe to administer.
Colorado Investigating Infection
Control Breach at Denver Hospital
Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, issued a statement April 4 about an infection control breach being inves- tigated at Denver’s Porter Adventist Hospital. The department is working with the hospital, which is notifying people who had or- thopedic or spine surgery there between July 21, 2016, and Feb. 20, 2018, about an infection control breach that may have put some or- thopedic or spine surgery patients at risk for surgical site infections or for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV. “The process for cleaning surgical instruments following orthopedic and spine surgeries was found to be inadequate, which may have compromised the steril- ization of the instruments,” his statement said.
It said the department was not aware of any patient infections related to the breach at the time the statement was issued.
On its homepage, the hospital posted this statement about the situation:
“At Porter Adventist Hospital, patient safety remains our top priority. Patients who underwent orthopedic or spine surgery at Porter Adventist Hospital between July 21, 2016 to February 20,
2018 are being notified of a gap in the pre-cleaning process of sur- gical instruments, prior to manual washing, machine washing, and sterilization. Please note that only those orthopedic and spine sur- gery patients during this period are impacted by this notice and will receive a letter by mail.
“The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stated on their website that, ‘The department is not aware of any patient infections related to the breach at this time.’ In an abun- dance of caution, patients are being provided information about surgical site infection and are being given the option to be tested for bloodborne pathogens. All hospital instruments go through heat sterilization following a multistep pre-cleaning process, which is designed to inactivate viruses including Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and HIV. We understand that this information may cause concern, and are working closely with our patient care team, doctors and staff to ensure any patients involved have the information and re- sources they need.
“We want to assure patients that our team immediately acted to remedy the situation. Recent survey results released by The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals in the United States, re- vealed no errors in our process or protocols. Patients that had an orthopedic or spine surgery during this time frame may call our patient hotline: 303-778-5694 if they have additional questions.”
Wolk’s statement said “the risk of surgical site infection related to this event (above the usual risk related to surgery) is unknown. The risk of getting HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C because of this issue is considered very low.” It explains that the health depart- ment was notified of the breach Feb. 21 and conducted an on-site survey of infection control practices the following day; a disease control investigation is ongoing. When the department last visited the hospital March 28, it confirmed that current infection-control practices there meet standards, it said.
Wolk also wrote that the hospital stopped using and repro- cessed all surgical equipment in question Feb. 20. “While there is always a risk of infection during surgery, it appears there is no in- creased risk to current patients having surgery at Porter Adventist Hospital because of the infection control breach. On April 4, Porter Adventist Hospital mailed letters to patients who may have been put at risk. People who had orthopedic or spine surgery at Porter between July 21, 2016 and Feb. 20, 2018 can contact Porter Adven- tist Hospital,” he explained.
Norfolk Southern’s Safety Train Begins 2018 Tour
Norfolk Southern’s safety train began its 2018 tour on April 3, start- ing with three days of training at the company’s rail yard in Hat- tiesburg, Miss., the company announced. The train will stop in 23 cities this year as part of Norfolk Southern’s Operation Awareness & Response program, which provides free training to first respond- ers on how to safely respond to a potential rail hazmat incident.
Later stops on the tour will include communities in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
At every stop, Norfolk Southern hazmat specialists lead a four- hour course that combines classroom instruction and hands-on training on a locomotive and rail cars. Emergency personnel at- tending the training learn about railroad operations, basic safety
12 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2018
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