Building infection prevention programmes

Author(s):  
Nizam Damani

This Chapter examines the global burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and its impact on healthcare facilities and on individuals. It also provides practical advice on how to successfully build an infection prevention and control (IPC) programme. It also summarizes how to provide low cost and cost-effective IPC services and lists unsafe, ritualistic, and wasteful IPC practices. The chapter examines the responsibilities both of healthcare facilities and healthcare workers in the prevention of HAIs. It also provides guidance on how to organize an IPC programme and discuss the role and responsibility of the infection control doctor and nurse/practitioner and outlines the core competencies required by the IPC team to perform their job effectively. It provides a summary of WHO core components to establish successful IPC programmes both at the national and healthcare facility level. Lists and web links to key IPC professional organizations and regulatory bodies are also provided.

2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110127
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Faisal Sultan

Background: Patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities during outbreaks hinges on a prompt infection prevention and control response. Physicians leading these programmes have encountered numerous obstacles during the pandemic. Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate infection prevention and control practices and explore the challenges in Pakistan during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and administered a survey to physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes at 18 hospitals in Pakistan. Results: All participants implemented universal masking, limited the intake of patients and designated separate triage areas, wards and intensive care units for coronavirus disease 2019 patients at their hospitals. Eleven (61%) physicians reported personal protective equipment shortages. Staff at three (17%) hospitals worked without the appropriate personal protective equipment due to limited supplies. All participants felt overworked and 17 (94%) reported stress. Physicians identified the lack of negative pressure rooms, fear and anxiety among hospital staff, rapidly evolving guidelines, personal protective equipment shortages and opposition from hospital staff regarding the choice of recommended personal protective equipment as major challenges during the pandemic. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the challenges faced by physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes in Pakistan. It is essential to support infection prevention and control personnel and bridge the identified gaps to ensure patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Collignon ◽  
John J Beggs

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is affected by many factors, but too much of our focus has been on antimicrobial usage. The major factor that drives resistance rates globally is spread. The COVID-19 pandemic should lead to improved infection prevention and control practices, both in healthcare facilities and the community. COVID-19 will also have ongoing and profound effects on local, national and international travel. All these factors should lead to a decrease in the spread of resistant bacteria. So overall, COVID-19 should lead to a fall in resistance rates seen in many countries. For this debate we show why, overall, COVID-19 will not result in increased AMR prevalence. But globally, changes in AMR rates will not be uniform. In wealthier and developed countries, resistance rates will likely decrease, but in many other countries there are already too many factors associated with poor controls on the spread of bacteria and viruses (e.g. poor water and sanitation, poor public health, corrupt government, inadequate housing, etc.). In these countries, if economies and governance deteriorate further, we might see even more transmission of resistant bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kemal Jemal ◽  
Ketema Gashaw ◽  
Tadele Kinati ◽  
Worku Bedada ◽  
Belete Getahun

Background. Infection prevention and control practice (IPCP) is essential for healthcare safety and quality service delivery. The Ethiopian government has already put in place programs and initiatives for clean and safe healthcare facilities. However, in the North Showa Zone of the Oromiya Region, the infection prevention and control practice level was not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of infection prevention and control practice among the health workforce (HWF) in North Shoa healthcare facilities (NSHCFs) environment. Methods. Healthcare facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. Structured and pretested self-administered questionnaires were distributed for 373 health workforce. Three hospitals and six health centers were randomly selected, and the study participants were selected by systematic sampling technique. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.5.2 and then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the associated factors with infection prevention practice, and a p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 361 (96.8%) health workforce responded to self-administered questionnaires. About 55.70% of study participants had good knowledge, 59.3% of them had a positive attitude, and 46.8% had a good infection prevention practice. Age category of 20–29(AOR = 4.08, 95%, CI = (1.97, 8.49)), female participants (AOR = 3.87, 95%, CI = (1.91, 7.86)), single participants (AOR = 3.89, 95%, CI = (1.92, 7.87)), having greater than ten years of working experience (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI = (1.19, 8.10)), positive attitude (AOR = 10.07, 95% CI = (4.82, 21.05)), and availability of water at working area (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI = (1.18, 4.35)) were significantly associated with good infection prevention practice. Conclusion. In this study, a significant number of health workers had low knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor infection prevention practices. Female participants, higher work experience, a positive attitude, and water availability in the healthcare facilities were positively associated with infection prevention and control practice. Healthcare facilities should be continued capacitating the health workforce on infection prevention and control measures and equipping health facilities with infection prevention materials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-240
Author(s):  
Tiara Fani ◽  
Kriswiharsi Kun Saptorini ◽  
Retno Astuti Setijaningsih ◽  
Nimas Arum Titisari

Covid infection risks among non-medical staff in healthcare facilities may not be as high as physicians and nurses. However, healthcare facilities should understand infection risk among non-medical staff who works during the pandemic. This study describes several factors associated with Covid-19 infection among medical recorders. A descriptive study with a cross-sectional approach observed 124 medical record officers in Central Java Province from January to June 2021. This study measured socio-demographic factors, job characteristics, infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts, and Covid-19 infection through an online questionnaire with Kobotoolbox. Data analyze performed in descriptive and bivariate analysis. Most respondents said personal protective equipment (PPE) availability was adequate and had received IPC training. Socio-demographic factors, PPE availability, IPC training, and occupation were significantly unrelated to covid 19 infections. Having infected co-workers was related to covid 19 transmissions. Covid-19 cases proportion mostly in respondents who work in type C and D hospitals, never or rarely available PPE, received IPC training, worked <7 hours/day, and medical record staff.  Healthcare facilities should pay more attention to PPE availability and other infection prevention and control for medical recorder staff. Further research should assess the contact history of workers with positive covid 19 both in or outside their workplace and their activities outside their workplace, PPE use compliance, and IPC training time.


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