Optimizing Hospital Infection Control: The Role of Mathematical Modeling

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1521-1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan N. Doan ◽  
David C. M. Kong ◽  
Carl M. J. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Emma S. McBryde

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are major causes of nosocomial infections and are associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Preventive strategies have therefore become increasingly important. Mathematical modeling has been widely used to understand the transmission dynamics of nosocomial infections and the quantitative effects of infection control measures. This review will explore the principles of mathematical modeling used in nosocomial infections and discuss the effectiveness of infection control measures investigated using mathematical modeling.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(12):1521–1530

Author(s):  
Pascal Astagneau ◽  
Elise Seringe ◽  
François Bricaire

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in older people frequently occur in mid or long-term cares facilities. The most frequent infections are those of the urinary tract, respiratory tract, skin/soft tissue, and gastrointestinal tract. The spectrum of pathogens are different in epidemic and endemic situations. Outbreaks occurring in long-term care frequently involve seasonal viruses such influenza, scabies, and multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Clostridium difficile. Ageing is a risk factor for HAI, which impairs immunological, metabolical, and neurological functions. Indwelling devices, poor nutritional status, and lack of mobility also increase the infection risk in the cared-for elderly. Infection control measures have to be implemented according to standard recommendations, including the use of alcohol-based hand rubs. Control measures should be adapted to the organization of healthcare facilites for older people, in particular environment and poor staff ressources. Focus should be made on vaccination programme of healthcare staff, especially against influenza.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Gadi Borkow ◽  
Jeffrey Gabbay

Nosocomial infections, especially those caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria, are increasing at an alarming rate over the globe. Unfortunately, standard infection control practices, such as pre-emptive isolation of high-risk patients, wide and targeted surveillance cultures, and proper ventilation systems are lacking in developing countries mainly due to insufficient resources. Patients shed bacteria and contaminate their pyjamas and sheets. The temperature and humidity between the patients and the bed are appropriate conditions allowing for effective bacterial proliferation. Bed making releases large quantities of micro-organisms into the air, which contaminate the immediate and non-immediate surroundings. Personnel in contact with contaminated textiles can also cross-contaminate other surfaces or patients. Thus textiles in hospitals can be an important source of microbes contributing to endogenous, indirect-contact, and aerosol transmission of nosocomial related pathogens. The use of safe wide-spectrum antimicrobial textiles, especially in those textiles that are in close contact with the patients, may significantly reduce bioburden in clinical settings and consequently reduce the risk of nosocomial infections. This is of special significance in resource poor developing countries, where wards are overcrowded and population infection burdens are very high. The use of biocidal textiles is a simple, cost-affordable and feasible measure that may be especially important in developing countries where essential infection control measures are not implemented.


2018 ◽  
Vol 143 (09) ◽  
pp. 634-642
Author(s):  
Simone Scheithauer ◽  
Martin Kaase

AbstractPatients colonized or infected by multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) are entitled to the same medical treatment as other patients and infection control measures based on the current evidence are not in conflict with this aim. Recent studies indicate that the correct sampling technique is of utmost importance when screening for MRSA and usage of certain swabs might reduce the sensitivity considerably. Despite improvements in diagnostic strategies for direct MRSA detection by PCR, false positive results cannot be totally excluded. With regard to multidrug-resistant gramnegative bacteria differences between species should be emphasized to tailor infection control measures. E. g. easier transmissibility has been shown for K. pneumoniae compared to E. coli. Hospitals in Germany should strictly employ screening for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales as well as A. baumannii in all patients hospitalized abroad within the previous year. To avoid unnecessary social exclusion of MDR patients it must be emphasized that contact precautions are recommended for hospitals and not for long-time care facilities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinku Sah ◽  
Shraddha Siwakoti ◽  
Ratna Baral ◽  
Rupa S Rajbhandari ◽  
Basuda Khanal

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ( S. maltophilia) is an important Gram-negative, non-fermentative, multidrug resistant (MDR) nosocomial organism. We evaluated the isolation of S. maltophilia from the seven blood culture specimens received from the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) over the duration of two weeks. The suspicion of a possible outbreak was raised and the hospital infection control team investigated the source and found the hand of one healthcare provider harbouring a similar organism. All six steps of hand hygiene were subsequently strictly enforced after which the same bacteria were no longer isolated. Infection control measures should be rigorously adopted for the control of such nosocomial bacteria.


Author(s):  
Katharina R. Rynkiewich ◽  
Jinal Makhija ◽  
Mary Carl M. Froilan ◽  
Ellen C. Benson ◽  
Alice Han ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Ventilator-capable skilled nursing facilities (vSNFs) are critical to the epidemiology and control of antibiotic-resistant organisms. During an infection prevention intervention to control carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), we conducted a qualitative study to characterize vSNF healthcare personnel beliefs and experiences regarding infection control measures. Design: A qualitative study involving semistructured interviews. Setting: One vSNF in the Chicago, Illinois, metropolitan region. Participants: The study included 17 healthcare personnel representing management, nursing, and nursing assistants. Methods: We used face-to-face, semistructured interviews to measure healthcare personnel experiences with infection control measures at the midpoint of a 2-year quality improvement project. Results: Healthcare personnel characterized their facility as a home-like environment, yet they recognized that it is a setting where germs were ‘invisible’ and potentially ‘threatening.’ Healthcare personnel described elaborate self-protection measures to avoid acquisition or transfer of germs to their own household. Healthcare personnel were motivated to implement infection control measures to protect residents, but many identified structural barriers such as understaffing and time constraints, and some reported persistent preference for soap and water. Conclusions: Healthcare personnel in vSNFs, from management to frontline staff, understood germ theory and the significance of multidrug-resistant organism transmission. However, their ability to implement infection control measures was hampered by resource limitations and mixed beliefs regarding the effectiveness of infection control measures. Self-protection from acquiring multidrug-resistant organisms was a strong motivator for healthcare personnel both outside and inside the workplace, and it could explain variation in adherence to infection control measures such as a higher hand hygiene adherence after resident care than before resident care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-177
Author(s):  
Ramand Haji ◽  
◽  
Dana Abdilkarim ◽  
Salar Ali ◽  
Srwa Mohammad ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Nurses can prevent the occurrence and transmission of noso-comial infections by following infection control measures such as wearing gloves and masks, using appropriate disinfection of skin and preventing accidental needle-stick inju-ries. This research aimed to evaluate the availability of hospital uniforms, personal protec-tive equipment, and infection control activities at hospitals in Sulaimani in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and to examine nurses’ experience of nosocomial infections. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was performed at 10 governmental hospi-tals during the period from 20th February to 28th September 2018. 525 nurses were se-lected as participants by a convenience sampling method. A self-administrated question-naire was used to collect data, which were analysed using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that 268 nurses (51%) reported that their hospitals provided sufficient uniforms to all the medical staff and the majority of nurses, 444 respondents (84.6%) stated that they were responsible for cleaning their working uniforms. 441 nurses reported that they did not acquire a nosocomial infection, and 479 (91.2%) did not have an accident during their work in the hospital. 79.9% of the nurses (404) reported recapping syringe needles after the usage, and 98 (18.7%) gave a low rating to the infection control unit activity in their hospitals. Finally, more than half of nurses (330) representing 62.9% of the sample were vaccinated against nosocomial infections. Conclusions: Most of Sulaimani governmental hospitals are providing sufficient uniforms for the health staff, the majority of nurses were vaccinated against one or more nosocomi-al infections, and the majority of nurses do needle syringe recapping.


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