Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has not treated an extremely high volume of COVID-19 patients, but understand that could change very quickly.
As the hospital continues to follow the recommendations of the CDC, the PMC Infection Control Department is consistently searching for ways to eliminate as many different types of bacteria as possible.
PMC has recently begun using a product that eliminates many types of bacteria found inside the nose, specifically, a type of staph bacteria called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). PMC nursing staff recently completed training on Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer®, which is applied inside the nostrils twice a day.
“Using Nozin is going to be a powerful tool in our treatment of patients with MRSA,” explained PMC Director of Infection Control Nina Reynolds. “Previously, patients with MRSA were automatically placed in isolation, which resulted in an increased use of PPE for anyone entering the room. Now, in many instances, those patients will be able to remain in a regular room, which will hopefully reduce some of the stress placed on patients and their families.”
According to the CDC, as many as 30 percent of people can be nasal carriers of a staph bacteria.
Those statistics prompted PMC officials to add the use of Nozin to the daily treatment plan of every patient admitted to the hospital. Nozin will also be administered to patients before outpatient procedures.
“We are continuing to search for ways to keep our patients and staff safe, while we strive to ensure patients are pleased with their treatment while at PMC,” said Reynolds. “We feel the addition of Nozin will address both of those goals.”
For more information about Nozin call the PMC Infection Control Department at 606-218-3990.
