scholarly journals Rapid conversion of an in-patient hospital unit to accommodate COVID-19: An interdisciplinary human factors, ethnography, and infection prevention and control approach

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245212
Author(s):  
Raad Fadaak ◽  
Jan M. Davies ◽  
Marlot Johanna Blaak ◽  
John Conly ◽  
Joanne Haslock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Specific Care ◽  
And Control ◽  
Rapid Conversion

Background In response to the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, in-patient units in hospitals around the world have altered their patient care routines and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices. Our interdisciplinary team of applied Human Factors (HF), ethnography, and IPC experts assisted one Unit, normally serving general surgical and orthopedic patients, as it rapidly converted to deliver COVID-19-specific care. This paper describes the conversion experience of the Unit, and outlines broader lessons for other acute care teams faced with similar issues. Methods We deployed walkthroughs, simulations, and ethnography to identify important safety gaps in care delivery processes on the Unit. These interventions were undertaken using interdisciplinary theories of implementation that combined systems-level HF perspectives, ethnographic approaches, and individual-level IPC perspectives. Timely recommendations were developed and delivered to Unit staff for feedback and implementation. Results We describe three interventions on the Unit: 1) the de-cluttering and re-organization of personal protective equipment (PPE); 2) the reconfiguring of designated ‘dirty’ tray tables and supplies; and 3) the redesign of handling pathways for ‘dirty’ linens and laundry. Each of these interventions was implemented to varying degrees, but all contributed to discussions of safety and IPC implementation that extended beyond the Unit and into the operations of the broader hospital. Conclusions Leveraging our team’s interdisciplinary expertise and blended approaches to implementation, the interventions assisted in the Unit’s rapid conversion towards providing COVID-19-specific care. The deployment and implementation of the interventions highlight the potential of collaboration between HF, ethnography, and IPC experts to support frontline healthcare delivery under pandemic conditions in an effort to minimize nosocomial transmission potential in the acute healthcare setting.

scholarly journals Covid-19 pandemic: chronicle of responses and experiences of the infection prevention and control committee at a tertiary hospital in southwest Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1093-1099
Author(s):  
Akinwumi Ayodeji Akinbodewa ◽  
Michael Simidele Odimayo ◽  
Olorunfemi Akinbode Ogundele ◽  
Tosin Oluwapelumi Ogunleye ◽  
Olanrewaju Olayinka Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
And Control

Since the advent of 2019-Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria in February 2020, the number of confirmed cases has risen astronomically to over 61,307 cases within 8 months with more than 812 healthcare workers infected and some recorded deaths within their ranks. Infection prevention and control is a key component in ensuring safety of healthcare workers in the hospital as health- care-associated infection is one of the most common complications of healthcare management. Unbridled transmission of infection can lead to shortage of healthcare personnel, reduced system efficiency, increased morbidity and mortality among patients and in some instances, total collapse of healthcare delivery services. The Infection Prevention and Control Committee is a recognised group by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention with their core programmes including drawing up activities, procedures and policies designed to achieve above-stated objectives before, during and after any disease outbreak, especially emerging and re-emerging ones such as the 2019 Coronavirus Disease. In this report, we highlight the roles played by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within and outside the hospital community and the lessons learned to date. Keywords: COVID-19; infection prevention; infection control; Nigeria.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on Patient Safety: A Survey of Acute-Care Registered Nurses in New Jersey

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s54-s55
Author(s):  
Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz ◽  
Mary Lou Manning ◽  
Angela Gerolamo ◽  
Mary Johansen ◽  
Irina Grafova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Registered Nurses ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Background: As the world grapples with the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it is important to consider the full impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on healthcare delivery. Evidence from outbreaks of novel H1N1 and Ebola indicates that response to these types of outbreaks requires extraordinary resources, which are diverted from routine infection prevention and control activities. However, little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on adherence to patient safety protocols in hospitals, including infection prevention and control activities. We have described the reports of acute-care registered nurses (RNs) in adhering to patient safety protocols while delivering care to COVID-19 patients. Methods: In October 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional electronic survey of all active RNs in the state of New Jersey who provided direct patient care in a New Jersey hospital in an emergency or adult inpatient unit during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: More than 3,027 RNs participated in the survey, for a 15% response rate based on number of eligible RNs. Moreover, 15% of respondents reported that they tested positive for COVID-19 during the initial peak of COVID-19 in New Jersey (March–June 2020). Most RNs reported that the number of patients they were assigned during the first peak of the pandemic affected their ability to adhere to patient safety protocols (eg, deep-vein thrombosis screening, central-line bundles, pressure ulcer prevention). In open-ended responses, they shared that being understaffed, the extra time it took for downing and doffing of PPE, the lack of access to ancillary staff (ie nursing assistants, runners), and the need to cluster care affected the quality of care. A nurse working in the intensive care unit (ICU) lamented, “We were sometimes given 4–5 ICU patients who were very sick and required a lot of care. Shortcuts had to be taken to prioritize the most important needs. Sometimes IVs remained longer than desired. Foleys remained in longer. To avoid PPE shortages, we didn’t go into the rooms nearly as much as we normally would, [and] things got missed.” Feelings of being overwhelmed and helpless permeated the nurses’ comments. Conclusions: When caring for COVID-19 patients, frontline nurses struggled with adherence to necessary patient safety protocols, which ultimately disrupted care delivery. Future research should quantify the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic affected care delivery, including adherence to patient safety protocols among frontline providers.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals A community-engaged infection prevention and control approach to Ebola

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 440-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Marais ◽  
Meredith Minkler ◽  
Nancy Gibson ◽  
Baraka Mwau ◽  
Shaheen Mehtar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
And Control

A Health System’s Preparedness for the “Next Ebola”

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin H. Baers ◽  
Katelyn Wiley ◽  
J. M. Davies ◽  
Jeff K. Caird ◽  
Greg Hallihan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
In Situ Simulation ◽  
Health Region ◽  
And Control

We share lessons learned from a collaborative in situ simulation of Ebola preparedness for a large health region. The lessons are to use proactive analysis, undertake in situ simulation, and have professionals in infection prevention and control and those in human factors collaborate. These lessons are applicable as generalizable concepts, not only to Ebola preparedness but also to other infectious diseases, including the “next Ebola.” Implementing these concepts will help contribute to improvements in both patient and provider safety.

scholarly journals Challenges of infection prevention and control in Scottish long-term care facilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 943-945
Author(s):  
Le K. N. Nguyen ◽  
Itamar Megiddo ◽  
Susan Howick
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
And Control

AbstractResidents living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are at high risk of contracting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The unique operational and cultural characteristics of LTCFs and the currently evolving models of healthcare delivery in Scotland create great challenges for infection prevention and control (IPC). Existing literature that discusses the challenges of infection control in LTCFs focuses on operational factors within a facility and does not explore the challenges associated with higher levels of management and the lack of evidence to support IPC practices in this setting.1-7 Here, we provide a broader view of challenges faced by LTCFs in the context of the current health and social care models in Scotland. Many of these challenges are also faced in the rest of the United Kingdom and internationally.

scholarly journals Human Factors Engineering Contributions to Infection Prevention and Control

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank A. Drews ◽  
Lindsay C. Visnovsky ◽  
Jeanmarie Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Current Infection ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
And Control

Objective: This article provides a review of areas that present significant challenges in infection prevention and control and describes human factors engineering (HFE) approaches that have been applied successfully to these areas. In addition, implications and recommendations for HFE use in future research are discussed. Background: Infection prevention and control aims to prevent patients and health care personnel from acquiring preventable infections in healthcare. Effective infection control practices of healthcare-associated infections have recently become even more critical with the emergence of life-threatening infections. HFE could benefit infection prevention and control in addressing older and more recent challenges, but uptake has been limited. Method/Results: This literature review is an integration and synthesis of recently published research that describes HFE-based approaches in infection prevention and control to address the challenges for three specific topics. The results of the review suggests that HFE is in a position to support work in infection prevention and control and improve overall healthcare safety. Conclusion: HFE provides conceptual frameworks and methods that have significant potential to improve infection prevention and control. Application: The work reviewed can provide potential solutions for current infection prevention and control challenges by applying HFE based recommendations.

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