scholarly journals Assessment of service availability and Infection prevention measures in hospitals of Nepal during the transition phase of COVID-19 case surge

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suraj Bhattarai ◽  
Jaya Dhungana ◽  
Tim Ensor ◽  
Uttam Babu Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Service Availability ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Viral Transport ◽  
Hospital Readiness ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
And Control ◽  
Public Health Strategies

As with other coronavirus-affected countries, Nepalese medical fraternity also expressed concerns regarding public health strategies of government and hospital readiness in response to upgoing case surge. To gauge such response, we assessed service availability and Infection prevention and control (IPC) status in 110 hospitals situated across seven provinces. An electronic survey was sent out to the frontline clinicians working on those hospitals between 24th March and 7th April 2020; one response per hospital was analyzed. Hospitals were divided into small, medium, and large based on the total number of beds (small:<=15; medium:16-50; large:>50), and further categorized into public, private, and mixed based on the ownership. Out of 110 hospitals, 81% (22/27) of small, 39% (11/28) of medium, and 33% (18/55) of large hospitals had not allocated isolation beds for COVID-19 suspects. All small, majority of medium (89%; 25/28), and 50% of large hospitals did not have a functional intensive care unit (ICU) at the time of study. Nasopharyngeal (NP)/throat swab kits were available in one-third (35/110), whereas viral transport media (VTM), portable fridge box, and refrigerator were available in one-fifth (20%) of hospitals. Only one hospital (large/tertiary) had a functional PCR machine. Except for General practitioners, other health cadres- crucial during pandemics, were low in number. On IPC measures, the supplies of simple face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers were adequate in the majority of hospitals, however, N95-respirators, Filter masks, and PPE-suits were grossly lacking. Government COVID-19 support was unevenly distributed across provinces; health facilities in Province 2, Gandaki, and Province 5 received fewer resources than others. Our findings alert the Nepalese and other governments to act early and proactively during health emergencies and not wait until the disease disrupts their health systems. Other countries of similar economic levels may undertake similar surveys to measure and improve their pandemic response.

scholarly journals Health services availability and readiness for COVID-19 case surge in hospitals of Nepal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suraj Bhattarai ◽  
Jaya Dhungana ◽  
Tim Ensor ◽  
Uttam Babu Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Throat Swab ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Viral Transport ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Hospital Readiness ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
Public Health Strategies

Abstract Background As with other coronavirus-affected countries, Nepal’s medical community also expressed concerns regarding the government’s public health strategies and hospital readiness in response to increasing COVID-19 case surge. To gauge such response, we assessed service availability and readiness status in hospitals situated across seven provinces. Methods A web-based observational study was conducted between March 24 and April 07 in 110 hospitals, all of which were later designated as COVID-19 clinics or hospitals by Nepal Government. An electronic survey link was sent out to the clinicians working at the frontline in those hospitals. One response per hospital was analyzed. Hospitals were divided into small, medium, and large based on the total number of beds (small:15 or less; medium:16–50; large:>50), and further categorized into public, private, and mixed based on the ownership. Results Out of 110 hospitals, 81% (22/27) of small, 39% (11/28) of medium, and 33% (18/55) of large hospitals had not allocated isolation beds for COVID-19 suspects or cases. Majority of medium (89%; 25/28), and 38% of large hospitals did not have a functional intensive care unit (ICU) at the time of study. Nasopharyngeal (NP)/throat swab kits were available in one-third (35/110), whereas viral transport media (VTM), portable fridge box, and refrigerator were available in one-fifth (20%) of the hospitals. Only one hospital (large/tertiary) had a functional PCR machine. Except for General practitioners, other health cadres—crucial during pandemics, were low in number. On IPC measures, the supplies of simple face mask, gloves and hand sanitizers were adequate in the majority of hospitals, however, N95-respirators and PPE-suits were grossly lacking. Government’s COVID-19 support was unevenly distributed across provinces; health facilities in provinces 2, 4, and 5 received fewer resources than others. Conclusions Our findings alerted the Nepalese and other governments to act early and proactively during health emergencies and not wait until the disease disrupts their health systems. Other countries with similar economy levels may undertake similar surveys to measure and improve their pandemic response.

scholarly journals 1205. Healthcare Personnel Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Towards Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Protection from Respiratory Infections

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S433-S433
Author(s):  
Mary T Bessesen ◽  
Lewis Radonovich ◽  
Susan M Rattigan ◽  
Derek Cummings ◽  
Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
And Control ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Healthcare personnel (HCP) knowledge and attitudes toward Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures are important determinants of practices that can protect them from acquisition of infectious diseases from patients. We aimed to describe HCP knowledge and attitudes concerning IPC measures over time in the context of a clinical trial. Methods ResPECT was a multi-center, multi-season cluster randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness of medical masks (MM) and N95 respirators (N95) for preventing acute respiratory illnesses in HCP employed in outpatient clinical settings. At the beginning of each respiratory virus season, participants completed a survey instrument to measure IPC knowledge. At the beginning and end of each season participants completed a survey to assess attitudes and beliefs about IPC measures, especially MM and N95. Results A pre-study and post-study survey pair was available for 88.1% of participant seasons. There were no significant differences in demographic variables or job assignment between survey respondents and nonrespondents for each participant season. Participants correctly identified 59.8% to 63.4% of IPC measures that should be used by HCP when exposed to patients with symptoms of acute respiratory illness, or at high risk of infection. There was modest improvement in the knowledge score over time among providers who participated for multiple years in the study. In the first pre-study survey of IPC attitudes and beliefs, 88.5% and 87.9% of participants identified at least one reason to avoid using either MM and N95, respectively (Figure 1). At the post-season survey, the proportion of participants reporting a reason to avoid MM fell to 39.6% (IRR for pre- vs. post-season 0.15, 95% CI 0.13–0.17) and 53.6% reported a reason to avoid N95 (IRR 0.57, 95% CI 0.51–0.66). Conclusion HCPknowledge of IPC precautions was poor, suggesting a need for better IPC education and accountability in the outpatient setting. When given incentives to comply with processes toward which they had negative attitudes at baseline, HCP realized that medical masks and N95 respirators were comfortable enough to wear for patient encounters and interfered with their work processes less than expected. Disclosures Trish M. Perl, MD; MSc, 7–11: Advisory Board; medimmune: Research Grant.

Effective infection prevention and control strategies in a large accredited psychiatric facility in Singapore

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Poremski ◽  
Sandra Henrietta Subner ◽  
Grace Lam Fong Kin ◽  
Raveen Dev Ram Dev ◽  
Mok Yee Ming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Psychiatric Facility ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
And Control

The Institute of Mental Health in Singapore continues to attempt to prevent the introduction of COVID-19, despite community transmission. Essential services are maintained and quarantine measures are currently unnecessary. To help similar organizations, strategies are listed along three themes: sustaining essential services, preventing infection, and managing human and consumable resources.

Barriers to infection prevention and control practice among Amhara region teaching hospitals in Ethiopia: Qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walelegn Worku Yallew ◽  
Abera Kumie ◽  
Feleke Moges Yehuala
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Amhara Region ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Control Practice ◽  
And Control

Healthcare workers have good perception towards infection prevention, but there has been a poor practice towards it. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore barriers to practice of infection prevention and control practice in teaching hospitals in Amhara region. A phenomenological approach used to explore the lived experience of healthcare workers and management staffs towards infection prevention practice and control. The data was collected from ten in-depth interviews and 23 focus group discussion participants, by face to face interview using open ended interview performed in safe and quiet places. Data was managed using OpenCode software version 4.03 and contents were analyzed thematically. Totally ten different barriers were identified, such as availability of facilities, shortage of material supply, lack of maintenance of facilities and equipment, high patient flow, experience, emergency situation, healthcare worker behaviour and healthcare worker’s information about infection prevention, low awareness of patients and visitors and overflow of families and visitors to the hospital. For effective infection prevention practice implementation, barriers should be considered via identifying specific organizational, healthcare worker, patients and visitors as targets.

scholarly journals Infection control practices and challenges in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicentre cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110127
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Faisal Sultan
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
And Control

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.

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