scholarly journals Implementing a combined infection prevention and control with antimicrobial stewardship joint program to prevent caesarean section surgical site infections and antimicrobial resistance: a Tanzanian tertiary hospital experience

Author(s):  
Elisa Gentilotti ◽  
Pasquale De Nardo ◽  
Boniface Nguhuni ◽  
Alessandro Piscini ◽  
Caroline Damian ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Gentilotti ◽  
Pasquale De Nardo ◽  
Boniface Nguhuni ◽  
Alessandro Piscini ◽  
Caroline Damian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Surgical site infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after caesarean section, especially in Low and Middle Income Countries. We hypothesized that a combined infection prevention and control with antimicrobial stewardship joint program would decrease the rate of post- caesarean section surgical site infections at the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department of a Tanzanian tertiary hospital. Methods. The intervention included: 1. formal and on-job trainings on infection prevention and control; 2. evidence-based education on antimicrobial resistance and good antimicrobial prescribing practice. A second survey was performed to determine the impact of the intervention. The primary outcome of the study was post-caesarean section surgical site infections prevalence and secondary outcome the determinant factors of surgical site infections before/after the intervention and overall. The microbiological characteristics and patterns of antimicrobial resistance were ascertained.Results. Total 464 and 573 women were surveyed before and after the intervention, respectively. After the intervention, the antibiotic prophylaxis was administered to a significantly higher number of patients (98% vs 2%, p<0.001), caesarean sections were performed by more qualified operators (40% vs 28%, p=0.001), with higher rates of Pfannenstiel skin incisions (29% vs 18%, p<0.001) and of absorbable continuous intradermic sutures (30% vs 19%, p<0.001). The total number of post-caesarean section surgical site infections was 225 (48%) in the pre-intervention and 95 (17%) in the post intervention group (p<0.001). A low prevalence of gram-positive isolates and of methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus was detected in the post-intervention survey. Conclusions. Further researches are needed to better understand the potential of a hospital-based multidisciplinary approach to surgical site infections and antimicrobial resistance prevention in resource-constrained settings.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Gentilotti ◽  
Pasquale De Nardo ◽  
Boniface Nguhuni ◽  
Alessandro Piscini ◽  
Caroline Damian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Surgical site infections after caesarean section are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in Low and Middle Income Countries. We hypothesized that combining infection prevention and control with an antimicrobial stewardship programme would decrease the rate of post- caesarean section surgical site infections at the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department of a Tanzanian tertiary hospital. Methods A first survey was conducted to assess the burden of post-CS SSI. Thereafter, an intervention was introduced including: 1. formal on-the-job training on infection prevention and control; 2. evidence-based education on antimicrobial resistance and good antimicrobial prescribing practice. A second survey was performed to determine the impact of the intervention. The primary outcome of the study was information on the prevalence of post-caesarean section surgical site infections whereas the secondary outcome was the identification of the determinant factors of surgical site infections before/after the intervention and overall. The microbiological characteristics and patterns of antimicrobial resistance were also established. Results A total of 464 and 573 women were surveyed before and after the intervention, respectively. After the intervention, the antibiotic prophylaxis was administered to a significantly higher number of patients (98% vs 2%, p <0.001), caesarean sections were performed by more qualified operators (40% vs 28%, p =0.001), with higher rates of Pfannenstiel skin incisions (29% vs 18%, p <0.001) and of absorbable continuous intradermic sutures (30% vs 19%, p <0.001). The total number of post-caesarean section surgical site infections was 225 (48%) in the pre-intervention group and 95 (17%) in the post intervention group ( p <0.001). A low prevalence of gram-positive isolates and of methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus was detected in the post-intervention survey. Conclusions Further research is needed to better understand the potential of a hospital-based multidisciplinary approach to surgical site infections and antimicrobial resistance prevention in resource-constrained settings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 390-395
Author(s):  
Naomi Fleming

Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise. As more infections are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment, it would benefit practice nurses to be aware of the effective measures they can use to prevent the spread of infection, explains Naomi Fleming When micro-organisms are exposed to an antimicrobial, more susceptible organisms succumb, leaving behind those resistant to the antimicrobial. They can then pass on resistance to their offspring. The use and misuse of antimicrobials has increased the number and types of resistant organisms. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist and may spread. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is key to reducing demand for antimicrobial use and reducing the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance. Poor IPC can increase the spread of drug-resistant infections. Interventions such as effective hand hygiene and vaccination have significant potential to limit opportunities for drug-resistant strains to emerge. Effective leadership is vital and nurses are central to promoting IPC, leading on IPC compliance and ensuring uptake of vaccination in primary care.


Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Massimo Sartelli ◽  
Timothy C. Hardcastle ◽  
Fausto Catena ◽  
Alain Chichom-Mefire ◽  
Federico Coccolini ◽  
...  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a phenomenon resulting from the natural evolution of microbes. Nonetheless, human activities accelerate the pace at which microorganisms develop and spread resistance. AMR is a complex and multidimensional problem, threatening not only human and animal health, but also regional, national, and global security, and the economy. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, and poor infection prevention and control strategies are contributing to the emergence and dissemination of AMR. All healthcare providers play an important role in preventing the occurrence and spread of AMR. The organization of healthcare systems, availability of diagnostic testing and appropriate antibiotics, infection prevention and control practices, along with prescribing practices (such as over-the-counter availability of antibiotics) differs markedly between high-income countries and low and middle-income countries (LMICs). These differences may affect the implementation of antibiotic prescribing practices in these settings. The strategy to reduce the global burden of AMR includes, among other aspects, an in-depth modification of the use of existing and future antibiotics in all aspects of medical practice. The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery has instituted an interdisciplinary working group including healthcare professionals from different countries with different backgrounds to assess the need for implementing education and increasing awareness about correct antibiotic prescribing practices across the surgical pathways. This article discusses aspects specific to LMICs, where pre-existing factors make surgeons’ compliance with best practices even more important.


Author(s):  
Nizam Damani

The Manual of Infection Prevention and Control provides practical guidance on all aspects of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It outlines the basic concepts of infection prevention and control (IPC), modes of transmission, surveillance, control of outbreaks, epidemiology, and biostatistics. The book provides up-to-date advice on the triage and isolation of patients and on new and emerging infectious diseases, and with the use of illustrations, it provides a step-by-step approach on how to perform hand hygiene and how to don and take off personal protective equipment correctly. In addition, this section also outlines how to minimize cross-infection by healthcare building design and prevent the transmission of various infectious diseases from infected patients after death. The disinfection and sterilization section reviews how to risk assess, disinfect and/or sterilize medical items and equipment, antimicrobial activities, and the use of various chemical disinfectants and antiseptics, and how to decontaminate endoscopes. The section on the prevention of HAIs reviews and updates IPC guidance on the prevention of the most common HAIs, i.e. surgical site infections, infections associated with intravascular and urinary catheters, and hospital- and ventilator-acquired pneumonias. In view of the global emergence of antimicrobial resistance to the various pathogens, the book examines and provides practical advice on how to implement an antibiotic stewardship programme and prevent cross-infection against various multi-drug resistant pathogens. Amongst other pathogens, the book also reviews IPC precautions against various haemorrhagic and bloodborne viral infections. The section on support services discusses the protection of healthcare workers, kitchen, environmental cleaning, catering, laundry services, and clinical waste disposal services.


Author(s):  
Samer Singh

The antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance is rapidly spreading in microbes relevant to human health. Two visible major contributory factors have been the indiscriminate overuse of antimicrobials for preventing diseases in human and to enhance the productivity in agriculture sector. To mitigate the potential threat posed by post-antibiotic era, the global health stakeholders have been making extra efforts at a war footing to formulate and implement global and national plans of action. In the current article, an endeavour is made to provide a perspective to look beyond the current focus on just use of the antimicrobials. Attention has been drawn towards various obvious and not-so-obvious self-preservation infection-prevention practices in vogue from the pre-antibiotic era whose usage has been on decline in the antibiotic era for various reasons. Particularly, the practices with a clear potential to effectively decrease the spread of pathogens through contact, curtail the evolution and dissemination of the antimicrobial resistance in local environment and its introduction into the global community, should be Identified and strengthened to make them part of comprehensive hygiene and quarantine practices. Broadly, the suggestions pertaining to the personal and community hygiene including bereavement practices, isolation and quarantine of suspected pathogen carriers, and water and environment security have been made to invoke a constructive debate and discussion among various stakeholders for their evaluation and implementation to effectively delay the development of antimicrobial resistance wherever possible and disrupt its spread to pathogens.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tjibbe Donker ◽  
Katie L. Hopkins ◽  
Susan Hopkins ◽  
Berit Muller-Pebody ◽  
Tim E.A. Peto ◽  
...  

AbstractInfection prevention and control strategies aimed at reducing the occurrence of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and other antimicrobial-resistant organisms often include advice about screening patients coming from hospitals with a known resistance problem, to prevent introductions into new hospitals by shared patients. We argue that, despite being an efficient method of identifying cases, admission screening for introduction prevention is only effective if the absolute number of imported cases from other hospitals outnumbers the cases coming from the hospital’s own patient population, and therefore is only a feasible control strategy during the start of an epidemic. When determining whether import screening is still advisable, we therefore need to be continuously reminded of how Father Ted so eloquently summarised the principles of perspective: “These are small, but the ones out there are far away”.


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