scholarly journals Infection Prevention and Control in Liberia 5 Years After Ebola: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 216507992199807
Author(s):  
Laura Jean Ridge ◽  
Amy Witkoski Stimpfel ◽  
Robin Toft Klar ◽  
Victoria Vaughan Dickson ◽  
Allison Patricia Squires
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Clinician Training ◽  
And Control

Background: Effective management of health emergencies is an important strategy to improve health worldwide. One way to manage health emergencies is to build and sustain national capacities. The Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2015 resulted in greater infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity in Liberia, but few studies have investigated if and how that capacity was sustained. The purpose of this study was to examine the maintenance of IPC capacity in Liberia after Ebola. Methods: For this case study, data were collected via direct observation of nurse practice, semistructured interviews, and document collection. Data were collected in two counties in Liberia. Data were analyzed using directed content and general thematic analysis using codes generated from the safety capital theoretical framework, which describes an organization’s intangible occupational health resources. Findings: Thirty-seven nurses from 12 facilities participated. Ebola was a seminal event in the development of safety capital in Liberia, particularly regarding nurse knowledge of IPC and facilities’ investments in safety. The safety capital developed during Ebola is still being applied at the individual and organizational levels. Tangible resources, including personal protective equipment, however, have been depleted. Conclusions/Application to Practice: IPC capacity in Liberia had been sustained since Ebola but was threatened by under-investments in physical resources. Donor countries should prioritize sustained support, both financial and technical, in partnership with Liberian leaders. Occupational health nurses participating in disaster response should advocate for long-term investment by donor countries in personal protective equipment, access to water, and clinician training.

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.

scholarly journals Personal protective equipment and infection prevention and control: a national survey of UK medical students and interim foundation doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Jane Norton ◽  
Ioannis Georgiou ◽  
Alex Fung ◽  
Armin Nazari ◽  
Soham Bandyopadhyay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multi Centre Study ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background The adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention and control (IPC) training in UK medical students and interim Foundation Year 1 (FiY1) doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, as is its impact on COVID-19-related anxiety. Methods Cross-sectional, multi-centre study analysing self-reported adequacy of PPE and IPC training and correlation to a modified pandemic anxiety scale. Participants were current medical students and FiY1 doctors in the UK. Data were collected by an online survey. Results Participants reported that they received insufficient PPE information (43%) and IPC training (56%). Significantly, fewer participants identifying as women or BAME/mixed ethnicity reported receiving sufficient PPE information, compared with those identifying as men and White British/White Other, respectively. COVID-19-related anxiety was significantly higher in those without sufficient reported PPE or IPC training, in women compared with men, and in FiY1 doctors compared with medical students. Conclusions With medical students currently volunteering in and imminently returning to hospitals in an educational capacity, levels of self-reported PPE and IPC training are sub-optimal. Better training is paramount to avoid harm to patients and healthcare professionals and to reduce COVID-19-related anxiety among medical students and FiY1 doctors.

scholarly journals Enhancing Infection Prevention and Control Capacity in Health Facilities Following the 2019 Ebola Outbreak in Kasese, Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s471-s471
Author(s):  
Maureen Kesande ◽  
Mohammed Lamorde ◽  
Elizabeth Bancroft ◽  
Carolyn Herzig ◽  
Judith Nanyondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
And Control

Background: In June 2019, 3 people were diagnosed with Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Kasese district, Uganda, all of whom had come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although no secondary transmission of Ebola occurred, an assessment of infection prevention and control (IPC) using the WHO basic IPC facility assessment checklist revealed significant gaps. Robust IPC systems are critical for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections like EVD. A rapid intervention was developed and implemented in Kasese to strengthen IPC capacity in high-risk facilities. Methods: Of 117 healthcare facilities, 50 were considered at high risk of receiving suspected EVD cases from DRC based on population movement assessments. In August 2019, IPC mentors were selected from 25 high-risk facilities and assigned to support their facility and a second high-risk facility. Mentors ensured formation of IPC committees and implemented the national mentorship strategy for IPC preparedness in non-EVD treatment facilities. This effort focused on screening, isolation, and notification of suspect cases: 4 mentorship visits were conducted (1 per week for 1 month). Middle and terminal assessments were conducted using the WHO IPC checklist 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention commenced. Results were evaluated against baseline data. Results: Overall, 39 facilities had data from baseline, middle, and end assessments. Median scores in facility IPC standard precautions increased from baseline 50% (IQR, 39%–62%) to 73% (IQR, 67%–76%) at the terminal assessments. Scores increased for all measured parameters except for water source (access to running water). Greatest improvements were seen in formation of IPC committees (41% to 75%), hand hygiene compliance (47% to 86%), waste management (51% to 83%), and availability of dedicated isolation areas (16% to 42%) for suspect cases. Limited improvement was noted for training on management of suspect isolated cases and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) (Fig. 1). No differences were noted in scores for facilities with nonresident mentors versus those with resident mentors at baseline (48% vs 50%) and end assessments (72% vs 74%). Conclusions: This intervention improved IPC capacity in health facilities while avoiding the cost and service disruption associated with large-scale classroom-based training of health workers. The greatest improvements were seen in activities relying on behavior change, such as hand hygiene, IPC committee, and waste management. Smaller changes were seen in areas requiring significant investments such as isolation areas, steady water source, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE). Mentorship is ongoing in moderate- and lower-risk facilities in Kasese district.Funding: NoneDisclosures: Mohammed Lamorde reports contract research for Janssen Pharmaceutica, ViiV, Mylan.

scholarly journals Infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and opportunities for Kenyan public hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
Michuki Maina ◽  
Olga Tosas-Auguet ◽  
Mike English ◽  
Constance Schultsz ◽  
Jacob McKnight
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
And Control

Background: Infection prevention and control, and water sanitation and hygiene have an essential role in ensuring the quality of care and patient outcomes in hospitals. Using a modification of the World Health Organization’s water sanitation and hygiene facility improvement tool, we undertook assessments in 14 public hospitals in Kenya in 2018. The hospitals received written feedback on areas where they could make improvements. Following the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kenya, we were drawn to ask whether the results of our pre-pandemic survey had led to action, and whether or not the threat of COVID-19 had focused more attention on infection prevention and control and water sanitation and hygiene. Methods: Using a semi-structured interview guide, we carried out phone interviews with key hospital leaders in 11 of the 14 hospitals. The data were transcribed and coded into thematic areas. We draw on these interviews to describe the status and awareness of infection prevention and control. Results: The infection prevention and control committee members are training health workers on infection prevention and control procedures and proper use of personal protective equipment and in addition, providing technical support to hospital managers. While some hospitals have also accessed additional funds to improve infection prevention and control, they tended to be small amounts of money.  Long-standing challenges with supplies of infection prevention and control materials and low staff morale persist.  Crucially, the reduced supply of personal protective equipment has led to fear and anxiety among health care personnel. Conclusions: As funds are mobilised to support care for COVID-19, we ask that funds prioritise infection prevention and control measures. This would have a profoundly positive effect on within hospital virus transmission, patient and staff safety but also lasting benefits beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Infection prevention and control in health care settings during COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 81-92
Author(s):  
Kaniz Fatema ◽  
Lovely Barai
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Administrative Authority ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
And Control

Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are of critical importance in protecting the frontline healthcare providers in the ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and keep the healthcare services functioning. Healthcare facilities should apply strict IPC measures to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to their staff and other patients. The backbones of IPC in healthcare facilities are administrative measures, physical distancing, hand hygiene and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment. All healthcare workers working in any type of healthcare settings must have proper knowledge of IPC. Rational, correct and consistent use of personal protective equipment according to level of exposure to patients decreases the transmission of pathogens and protects the frontline fighters. Cleaning and disinfection procedures of environmental surfaces, medical devices and equipments, laundry etc must be done correctly and consistently. Administrative authority should provide logistic support, arrange training for health care personnel and monitor their compliance to IPC practices. As there is still no definite treatment of this disease, comprehensive IPC programmes are the only hope to control this pandemic. Birdem Med J 2020; 10, COVID Supplement: 81-92

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