Arizona medical malpractice attorneys have been concerned about poor infection control strategies at outpatient clinics, which account for a large number of operations performed every year.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now released new guidelines to prevent infections in these centers.

More than 75% of operations in the United States every year are now performed in outpatient clinics, and not in hospitals.  These outpatient clinics include primary care offices, ambulatory surgery centers and endoscopic clinics.  However, most patient safety efforts tend to focus on safety in hospitals.  That has meant an increased risk of infections in outpatient clinics.

This is in spite of the fact that there's research to suggest that infection risks in outpatient clinics are just as severe as those in hospitals.  In fact, because there's lower focus on safety in outpatient centers, patients in these facilities may be at an even higher risk of contracting infections than those in hospitals.  The new guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should help streamline and define the techniques that can be used to prevent infections in outpatient centers. 

Among other things, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient clinics develop and maintain proper infection prevention programs and ensure that there are sufficient supplies like hand hygiene products, and personal protection gear to prevent infections.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also suggests that at least one individual be trained in infection control procedures and employed on a full-time basis in the facility.  The facility must also have proper infection prevention policies, and must provide regular training in infection prevention strategies to all health care personnel.