scholarly journals Improvement in Infection Prevention and Control Measures at The Children Hospital, Lahore. A My Child Matters Collaborative Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 223s-223s
Author(s):  
M. Faizan ◽  
S. Anwar ◽  
R.U.A. Kashif ◽  
R. Saleem ◽  
H. Javed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Pediatric Cancer ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
And Control

Background: Overcrowding, lack of operational funds, and healthcare associated infections are major challenges at the Children Hospital Lahore, a public healthcare facility in Pakistan with 900 new pediatric cancer admissions annually. In 2014, a collaboration between My Child Matters (MCM), St. Jude Global Infectious Diseases Program (SJ-GID), and our institution was established to address these issues. Aim: To describe the effect of a collaborative improvement strategy on the infection prevention and control (IPC) standards in a pediatric oncology unit in a resource-limited setting. Methods: Our study was a prospective before-and-after study. We compare the WHO Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework (HHSAF) and 4 modules of the St. Jude modified Infection Control Assessment Tool (ICAT) scores. Our strategy included: (1) creating a multidisciplinary team of pediatric hematology-oncology, infectious disease physicians, nurses, microbiologist, and a data manager, (2) engaging on monthly online IPC mentoring sessions with the SJ-GID and MCM mentors, (3) performing daily inpatient healthcare associated (HAI) surveillance rounds, and (4) providing regular hand hygiene training and compliance audits. Results: Our hand hygiene facility level per WHO scores increased from “Inadequate” during the baseline assessment to “Intermediate/Consolidation” by the end of 3-year implementation (122 vs 352 HHSAF scores). The sink: bed and hand sanitizer: bed ratios improved to 1:6 and 1:1 respectively. Six washrooms were added to our unit. ICAT general infection control module increased by 40% (45 vs 78 ICAT score) and hygiene compliance improved by 20% from baseline. Identification of HAI increased from baseline (4.07 vs 8.7 infections per 1000 patient days). A 25% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Conclusion: Implementing a collaborative improvement strategy improved the IPC standards in our pediatric cancer center. The increase of HAI might be a result of a better surveillance and laboratory identification. Further targeted interventions should be develop to decrease HAI rates and infection-related morbidity and mortality in our population.

scholarly journals Frequently Identified Infection Control Gaps Related to Hand Hygiene in Long-Term Care Facilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S407-S407
Author(s):  
Kate Tyner ◽  
Regina Nailon ◽  
Sue Beach ◽  
Margaret Drake ◽  
Teresa Fitzgerald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Little is known about hand hygiene (HH) policies and practices in long-term care facilities (LTCF). Hence, we decided to study the frequency of HH-related infection control (IC) gaps and the factors associated with it. Methods The Nebraska (NE) Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program (ICAP) in collaboration with NE Department of Health and Human Services conducted in-person surveys and on-site observations to assess infection prevention and control programs (IPCP) in 30 LTCF from 11/2015 to 3/2017. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Infection Prevention and Control Assessment tool for LTCF was used for on-site interviews and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Hospital IC Worksheet was used for observations. Gap frequencies were calculated for questions (6 on CDC survey and 8 on CMS worksheet) representing best practice recommendations (BPR). The factors studied for the association with the gaps included LTCF bed size (BS), hospital affiliation (HA), having trained infection preventionists (IP), and weekly hours (WH)/ 100 bed spent by IP on IPCP. Fisher’s exact test and Mann Whitney test were used for statistical analyses. Results HH-related IC gap frequencies from on-site interviews are displayed in Figure 1. Only 6 (20%) LTCF reported having all 6 BPR in place and 10 (33%) having 5 BPR. LTCF with fewer gaps (5 to 6 BPR in place) appear more likely to have HA as compared with the LTCF with more gaps but the difference didn’t reach statistical significance (37.5% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.09). When analyzed separately for each gap, it was found that LTCF with HA are more likely to have a policy on preferential use of alcohol based hand rubs than the ones without HA. (85.7%, vs. 26.1% P = 0.008). Several IC gaps were also identified during observations (Figure 2) with one of them being overall HH compliance of <80%. LTCF that have over 90% HH compliance are more likely to have higher median IP WH/100 beds dedicated towards IPCP as compared with the LTCFs with less than 90% compliance (16.4 vs. 4.4, P < 0.05). Conclusion Many HH-related IC gaps still exist in LTCF and require mitigation. Mitigation strategies may include encouraging LTCF to collaborate with IP at local acute care hospitals for guidance on IC activities and to increase dedicated IP times towards IPCP in LTCF. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Attitudes, knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding occupational exposure of pulmonary tuberculosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley T. Bhebhe ◽  
Cornel Van Rooyen ◽  
Wilhelm J. Steinberg
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
And Control

Background: Healthcare-associated tuberculosis (TB) has become a major occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs). HCWs are inevitably exposed to TB, due to frequent interaction with patients with undiagnosed and potentially contagious TB. Whenever there is a possibility of exposure, implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) practices is critical.Objective: Following a high incidence of TB among HCWs at Maluti Adventist Hospital in Lesotho, a study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HCWs regarding healthcare-associated TB infection and infection controls.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in June 2011; it involved HCWs at Maluti Adventist Hospital who were involved with patients and/or sputum. Stratified sampling of 140 HCWs was performed, of whom, 129 (92.0%) took part. A self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used.Results: Most respondents (89.2%) had appropriate knowledge of transmission, diagnosis and prevention of TB; however, only 22.0% of the respondents knew the appropriate method of sputum collection. All of the respondents (100.0%) were motivated and willing to implement IPC measures. A significant proportion of participants (36.4%) reported poor infection control practices, with the majority of inappropriate practices being the administrative infection controls (> 80.0%). Only 38.8% of the participants reported to be using the appropriate N-95 respirator.Conclusion: Poor infection control practices regarding occupational TB exposure were demonstrated, the worst being the first-line administrative infection controls. Critical knowledge gaps were identified; however, there was encouraging willingness by HCWs to adapt to recommended infection control measures. Healthcare workers are inevitably exposed to TB, due to frequent interaction with patients with undiagnosed and potentially contagious TB. Implementation of infection prevention and control practices is critical whenever there is a possibility of exposure.

scholarly journals EXPLORING THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS REGARDING INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN HOSPITALS: A PILOT STUDY

2022 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2236-41
Author(s):  
Maha Pervaz Iqbal ◽  
Kerry Uebel ◽  
Md. Saiful Islam ◽  
Victoria Jabbour ◽  
Dr. Victoria Jabbour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Standard Precautions ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
And Control

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of medical students regarding standard precautions in an Australian undergraduate medical programme. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: University of New South Wales, Australia, duration of study was six-years. Methodology: Fifty medical students who were involved in clinical practice, were invited to complete a comprehensive questionnaire on standard precautions. Results: The majority of participants agreed that hand hygiene was the most important factor in infection control. Only 32 (16%) knew to use a full personal protective equipment for Ebola. Regarding sharps disposal, 46 (92%) students always disposed used needles in the recommended bin, 27 (54%) indicated they sometimes recapped used needle while 25 (20%) sometimes bent used needles. Conclusion: This study showed that there is a gap between knowledge and practice of medical students regarding hand hygiene and other infection control measures. There is a need for standardized and regular student training in the use of standard precautions in infection prevention and control.

scholarly journals Status Update on Infection Prevention and Control at Deployed Medical Treatment Facilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 185 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 451-460
Author(s):  
Alice E Barsoumian ◽  
Steffanie L Solberg ◽  
Ashley S Hanhurst ◽  
Amanda L Roth ◽  
Tamara S Funari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Organisms ◽  
Treatment Facilities ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
And Control

Abstract Introduction Infections with multidrug resistant organisms that spread through nosocomial transmission complicate the care of combat casualties. Missions conducted to review infection prevention and control (IPC) practices at deployed medical treatment facilities (MTFs) previously showed gaps in best practices and saw success with targeted interventions. An IPC review has not been conducted since 2012. Recently, an IPC review was requested in response to an outbreak of multidrug resistant organisms at a deployed facility. Materials and Methods A Joint Service team conducted onsite IPC reviews of MTFs in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. Self-assessments were completed by MTF personnel in anticipation of the onsite assessment, and feedback was given individually and at monthly IPC working group teleconferences. Goals of the onsite review were to assist MTF teams in conducting assessments, review practices for challenges and successes, provide on the spot education or risk mitigation, and identify common trends requiring system-wide action. Results Nine deployed MTFs participated in the onsite assessments, including four Role 3, three Role 2 capable of surgical support, and two Role 1 facilities. Seventy-eight percent of sites had assigned IPC officers although only 43% underwent required predeployment training. Hand hygiene and healthcare associated infection prevention bundles were monitored at 67% and 29% of MTFs, respectively. Several challenges including variability in practices with turnover of deployed teams were noted. Successes highlighted included individual team improvements in healthcare associated infections and mentorship of untrained personnel. Conclusions Despite successes, ongoing challenges with optimal deployed IPC were noted. Recommendations for improvement include strengthening IPC culture, accountability, predeployment training, and stateside support for deployed IPC assets. Variability in IPC practices may occur from rotation to rotation, and regular reassessment is required to ensure that successes are sustained through times of turnover.

scholarly journals Infection Prevention and Control Measures at the Children Hospital Lahore: A My Child Matters Collaborative Project

2020 ◽  
pp. 1540-1545
Author(s):  
Mahwish Faizan ◽  
Miguela A. Caniza ◽  
Saadia Anwar ◽  
Rahat-ul-Ain Kashif ◽  
Rabia Saleem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
And Control

PURPOSE Infection prevention among children with cancer is a major challenge at Children Hospital Lahore (CHL), a public health care facility in Pakistan with 1,000 new pediatric cancer admissions annually. The objective has been to reduce infections through collaboration between CHL and the St Jude Children’s Hospital Global Infectious Disease program via a grant by the Sanofi Espoir foundation through the My Child Matters program. The aim of the current study was to describe the effect of the collaborative improvement strategy on existing infection prevention and control (IPC) standards at CHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our work was a prospective before-and-after study to improve IPC standards. We compared the WHO Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework and four modules of the St Jude modified Infection Control Assessment Tool (ICAT) scores over a 3-year period. Our strategy included creating a multidisciplinary team of pediatric oncologists, infectious disease physicians, nurses, a microbiologist, and a data manager; engaging in monthly online IPC mentoring sessions with St Jude Children’s Hospital Global Infectious Disease program and My Child Matters mentors; performing daily inpatient health care–associated infection surveillance rounds; and performing regular hand hygiene training and compliance audits. RESULTS Baseline needs assessment showed health care–associated infections identified by positive blood cultures as 8.7 infections per 1,000 patient-days. Deficient hand hygiene supplies, health education measures, and bed sharing of neutropenic patients were identified as major challenges. Our hand hygiene facility level, per WHO scores, increased from Inadequate to Intermediate/Consolidation by the end of the 3-year implementation (122 v 352 WHO Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework scores). The sink:bed and hand sanitizer:bed ratios improved to 1:6 and 1:1, respectively. The ICAT general infection control module increased by 40% (45 v 78 ICAT scores) and hygiene compliance improved by 20%. CONCLUSION Implementing a collaborative improvement strategy improved IPC standards in our center, which can be easily replicated in other pediatric oncology centers in lower- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Challenges to Infection Control Team during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Quaternary Medical Center in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Hala A Amer ◽  
Ibrahim A Alowidah ◽  
Chasteffi Bugtai ◽  
Barbara M. Soule ◽  
Ziad A Memish
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background: King Saud Medical City (KSMC) is a quaternary care center based in the center of the capital city, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and is one of the key Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities dedicated to the care of COVID-19 patients in the central region. Methods: A comprehensive surge plan was promptly launched in mid-March 2020 to address the pandemic and then expanded in a phase-wise approach. Supporting the capacity of the infection prevention and control department (IPCD) was one of the main pillars of KSMC surge plan. Task force Infection Control teams have been formulated to tackle the different aspects of pandemic containment processes. The challenges and measures undertaken by the IPC team have been described. Conclusion: Realizing the more prominent role of infection prevention and control staff as frontline responders to public health emergencies like COVID-19, a solid infection prevention and control system at the healthcare setting supported by qualified and sufficient manpower, a well-developed multidisciplinary team approach, electronic infrastructure and efficient supply utilization is required for effective crisis management.

scholarly journals Train-the-Trainers in hand hygiene: a standardized approach to guide education in infection prevention and control

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermira Tartari ◽  
Carolina Fankhauser ◽  
Sarah Masson-Roy ◽  
Hilda Márquez-Villarreal ◽  
Inmaculada Fernández Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Hand Hygiene Improvement ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Harmonization in hand hygiene training for infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals is lacking. We describe a standardized approach to training, using a “Train-the-Trainers” (TTT) concept for IPC professionals and assess its impact on hand hygiene knowledge in six countries. Methods We developed a three-day simulation-based TTT course based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy. To evaluate its impact, we have performed a pre-and post-course knowledge questionnaire. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the results before and after training. Results Between June 2016 and January 2018 we conducted seven TTT courses in six countries: Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Thailand. A total of 305 IPC professionals completed the programme. Participants included nurses (n = 196; 64.2%), physicians (n = 53; 17.3%) and other health professionals (n = 56; 18.3%). In total, participants from more than 20 countries were trained. A significant (p < 0.05) improvement in knowledge between the pre- and post-TTT training phases was observed in all countries. Puebla (Mexico) had the highest improvement (22.3%; p < 0.001), followed by Malaysia (21.2%; p < 0.001), Jalisco (Mexico; 20.2%; p < 0.001), Thailand (18.8%; p < 0.001), South Africa (18.3%; p < 0.001), Iran (17.5%; p < 0.001) and Spain (9.7%; p = 0.047). Spain had the highest overall test scores, while Thailand had the lowest pre- and post-scores. Positive aspects reported included: unique learning environment, sharing experiences, hands-on practices on a secure environment and networking among IPC professionals. Sustainability was assessed through follow-up evaluations conducted in three original TTT course sites in Mexico (Jalisco and Puebla) and in Spain: improvement was sustained in the last follow-up phase when assessed 5 months, 1 year and 2 years after the first TTT course, respectively. Conclusions The TTT in hand hygiene model proved to be effective in enhancing participant’s knowledge, sharing experiences and networking. IPC professionals can use this reference training method worldwide to further disseminate knowledge to other health care workers.

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