KNOWLEDGE OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF SPHYGMOMANOMETERS IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN BENIN CITY

Nosocomial infections are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for other health conditions within a healthcare setting or facility. This study aims to determine the level of awareness of healthcare providers on the role sphygmomanometers play in the spread of nosocomial infections and to isolate microorganisms in sphygmomanometer cuffs used in healthcare facilities. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and administered to healthcare practitioners of two tertiary hospitals and community pharmacies in Benin City. Microbial contamination of sphygmomanometer cuffs was investigated following the standard isolation and identification techniques for microorganisms. A total of 217 responded; 27.2% pharmacists, 33.2% doctors and 39.6% nurses. The majority (50.2%) were between the ages of 20 – 30 years. 65.4% were females and 51.6% were single. Ninety-four percent (94%) of the total respondents said that microorganisms are present in the inner cuffs of sphygmomanometers, 76% said microorganisms on the cuffs are sources of nosocomial infections while 80.6% said patients can be infected with the use of sphygmomanometers. A total of 192 swabbed samples were collected from 64 cuffs in the healthcare facilities, 46.5% were bacteria and 53.5% fungi. The most isolated organisms were candida species 42(21%), Staphylococcus aureus 41(20.5% of which 28(68.3%) were methicillin resistant.), Mucor 34(17%), Aspergillus species 23(11.5%). Ninety four percent (94%) of respondents had good knowledge that blood pressure cuffs play a role in the spread of nosocomial infections. The sphygmomanometer cuffs were contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms implicated in nosocomial infections.

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RESEARCH: Dry Heat Processing of Single-Use Respirators and Surgical Masks

Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology ◽

10.2345/0899-8205-54.6.410 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 410-416

Author(s):

Joyce M. Hansen ◽

Scott Weiss ◽

Terra A. Kremer ◽

Myrelis Aguilar ◽

Gerald McDonnell

Keyword(s):

Microbial Contamination ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

High Volume ◽

Airborne Particles ◽

Heat Processing ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Dry Heat ◽

Surgical Masks ◽

Single Use

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has challenged healthcare providers in maintaining the supply of critical personal protective equipment, including single-use respirators and surgical masks. Single-use respirators and surgical masks can reduce risks from the inhalation of airborne particles and microbial contamination. The recent high-volume demand for single-use respirators and surgical masks has resulted in many healthcare facilities considering processing to address critical shortages. The dry heat process of 80°C (176°F) for two hours (120 min) has been confirmed to be an appropriate method for single-use respirator and surgical mask processing.

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Assessing The Knowledge, Attitude And Practice (KAP) of Prediabetes Management Among Healthcare Providers in Four Tertiary Hospitals In Nigeria: An Observational-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Advances in Bioscience and Clinical Medicine ◽

10.7575/aiac.abcmed.v.9n.1p.8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Dr. Kenneth Ogar Inaku ◽

Dr. Ifeyinwa Dorothy Nnakenyi ◽

Dr. Lucius Chidebere Imohc ◽

Dr. Akeem Oyeyemi Lawal ◽

Dr. Emin Johnson Emine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Reference Interval ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Care Providers ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Tertiary Hospitals ◽

Self Administered Questionnaire

Introduction: An estimated 6.3 million Nigerians were reported to have prediabetes in 2015 placing Nigeria in the 9th position in world ranking. This number is projected to become 12.9 million by 2040. One way of reversing this trend is early identification of individuals at risk. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of health care providers toward prediabetes diagnosis and management. Methods: This was an observational-based cross-sectional study involving the use of self administered questionnaire to doctors from the departments of internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, family medicine and others. Results: In all, 358 questionnaires out of 410 were selected. All 10 risk factors for prediabetes were correctly identified by 82/358 (22.9%) participants with 300/358 (83.8%) able to identify at least 5 risk factors. Laboratory reference interval of 5.6 – 6.9 mmol/L for diagnosing prediabetes using fasting plasma glucose were correctly identified by 70/358 (19.6%) (lower value) and 14.5% (upper value) respectively. American Diabetes Association guidelines for prediabetes screening was the most familiar to 272(76.0%) respondents even though 144/358(40.2%) do not consider prediabetes as a condition that requires specific management. Over half 186/358(52%) of respondents agreed that metformin use can reduce the risk of diabetes in individuals with prediabetes but only 6/358(1.7%) have ever discussed starting metformin with their patients. Conclusion: There is need to educate medical doctors about risk factors for prediabetes and its management to curb the rising diabetes epidemic in Nigeria.

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Emergency cricothyrotomy during the COVID-19 pandemic: how to suppress aerosolization

Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open ◽

10.1136/tsaco-2020-000542 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000542

Author(s):

Nabil Issa ◽

Whitney E Liddy ◽

Sandeep Samant ◽

David B Conley ◽

Robert C Kern ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Potential Risk ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Healthcare Setting ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Financial Resources ◽

Risk Of Infection ◽

X Ray ◽

General Surgeons ◽

Fluorescein Dye ◽

Nose And Throat

BackgroundCricothyrotomy is associated with significant aerosolization that increases the potential risk of infection among healthcare providers. It is important to identify simple yet effective methods to suppress aerosolization and improve the safety of healthcare providers.Methods5 ear, nose and throat and general surgeons used a locally developed hybrid cricothyrotomy simulator with a porcine trachea to test three draping methods to suppress aerosolization during the procedure: an X-ray cassette drape, dry operating room (OR) towels and wet OR towels. The three methods were judged based on three categories: effectiveness of suppression, availability in all healthcare systems and ease of handling.ResultsAll five surgeons performed the procedure independently using each of the three suppression methods. The wet OR towel drape was found to be an effective method to suppress aerosolization, and it did not hinder the surgeons from performing the procedure accurately. This finding was confirmed by using an atomized fluorescein dye injection into the porcine trachea, representing aerosolized material while performing the procedure.ConclusionsWe present a novel intervention using wet towels to suppress aerosolization during cricothyrotomy. Wet towels are cheap and readily available within any healthcare setting regardless of the financial resources available.

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Registration of Blood Exposure Accidents in the Netherlands by a Nationally Operating Call Center

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/667728 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (10) ◽

pp. 1017-1023

Author(s):

Peter M. Schneeberger ◽

Annemarie E. Meiberg ◽

Janet Warmelts ◽

Sander C. A. P. Leenders ◽

Paul T. L. van Wijk

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Call Center ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Occupational Health Services ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Call Center Employees

Objective.Healthcare providers and other employees, especially those who do not work in a hospital, may not easily find help after the occurrence of a blood exposure accident. In 2006, a national call center was established in the Netherlands to fill this gap.Methods.All occupational blood exposure accidents reported to the 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week call center from 2007, 2008, and 2009 were analyzed retrospectively for incidence rates, risk assessment, handling, and preventive measures taken.Results.A total of 2,927 accidents were reported. The highest incidence rates were reported for private clinics and hospitals (68.5 and 54.3 accidents per 1,000 person-years, respectively). Dental practices started reporting incidents frequently after the arrangement of a collective financial agreement with the call center. Employees of ambulance services, midwife practices, and private clinics reported mostly high-risk accidents, whereas penitentiaries frequently reported low-risk accidents. Employees in mental healthcare facilities, private clinics, and midwife practices reported accidents relatively late. The extent of hepatitis B vaccination in mental healthcare facilities, penitentiaries, occupational health services, and cleaning services was low (<70%).Conclusions.The national call center successfully organized the national registration and handling of blood exposure accidents. The risk of blood exposure accidents could be estimated on the basis of this information for several occupational branches. Targeted preventive measures for healthcare providers and other employees at risk can next be developed.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(10):1017-1023

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Changing Sources of Stigma against Patients with HIV/AIDS in the Rapid Expansion of Antiretroviral Treatment Services in Vietnam

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/4208638 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bach Xuan Tran ◽

Phung Quoc Tat Than ◽

Tung Thanh Tran ◽

Cuong Tat Nguyen ◽

Carl A. Latkin

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Setting ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Health Administration ◽

Continuous Training ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Culturally Tailored ◽

Hiv Aids

Stigmatization against HIV/AIDS greatly hinders efforts to increase the accessibility and utilization of HIV/AIDS services to meet the 90-90-90 goal. This study assessed the stigmatization and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) across multiple social settings such as family, community, and healthcare facilities in Vietnam. A total of 1,016 patients (63.8% males, mean age = 35.4) participated in a cross-sectional study using a culturally tailored HIV stigma measure in three HIV-epidemic-concentrated cities in Vietnam. Zero-inflated Poisson models were used to examine factors associated with the number of types of stigma that patients experienced. 86.2% PLWH reported experiencing stigma against HIV/AIDS, more frequently from their community (62.8%) and family (30.2%) than from health care facilities (8%). The level of stigma from community reported by PLWH is associated with socioeconomic status (e.g., income, occupation). The poor and middle economic classes and unemployed patients reported more stigmatization and discrimination from the community. Across all settings, PLWH experienced fewer stigmatization over the course of ART indicating the benefits of rapidly expanded ART programs. PLWH reported more stigmatization and discrimination at the provincial level of the health administration. Those with the history of drug injection reported significantly less stigmatization from healthcare setting. More culturally tailored interventions to reduce stigmatization overall to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of PLWH should be warranted to achieve the 90-90-90 goal. Improving HIV-related knowledge of the general population and providing opportunities for PLWH to be reintegrated into should be considered. Using mass media with positive messages and images would also foster positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among the population and could potentially change social values. Continuous training of health staffs’ attitude could minimize the occurrence of stigmatization and discrimination at healthcare facilities.

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Community health worker models in South Africa: a qualitative study on policy implementation of the 2018/19 revised framework

Health Policy and Planning ◽

10.1093/heapol/czaa172 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua P Murphy ◽

Aneesa Moolla ◽

Sharon Kgowedi ◽

Constance Mongwenyana ◽

Sithabile Mngadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Policy Implementation ◽

Community Health ◽

Resource Constraints ◽

Health Workers ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Programme Implementation ◽

Healthcare Facilities

Abstract South Africa has a long history of community health workers (CHWs). It has been a journey that has required balancing constrained resources and competing priorities. CHWs form a bridge between communities and healthcare service provision within health facilities and act as the cornerstone of South Africa’s Ward-Based Primary Healthcare Outreach Teams. This study aimed to document the CHW policy implementation landscape across six provinces in South Africa and explore the reasons for local adaptation of CHW models and to identify potential barriers and facilitators to implementation of the revised framework to help guide and inform future planning. We conducted a qualitative study among a sample of Department of Health Managers at the National, Provincial and District level, healthcare providers, implementing partners [including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who worked with CHWs] and CHWs themselves. Data were collected between April 2018 and December 2018. We conducted 65 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with healthcare providers, managers and experts familiar with CHW work and nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with 101 CHWs. We present (i) current models of CHW policy implementation across South Africa, (ii) facilitators, (iii) barriers to CHW programme implementation and (iv) respondents’ recommendations on how the CHW programme can be improved. We chronicled the differences in NGO involvement, the common facilitators of purpose and passion in the CHWs’ work and the multitude of barriers and resource limitations CHWs must work under. We found that models of implementation vary greatly and that adaptability is an important aspect of successful implementation under resource constraints. Our findings largely aligned to existing research but included an evaluation of districts/provinces that had not previously been explored together. CHWs continue to promote health and link their communities to healthcare facilities, in spite of lack of permanent employment, limited resources, such as uniforms, and low wages.

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Wandering Eyes: Using Gaze-Tracking Method to Capture Eye Fixations in Unfamiliar Healthcare Environments

HERD Health Environments Research & Design Journal ◽

10.1177/19375867211042344 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193758672110423

Author(s):

Hessam Ghamari ◽

Nasrin Golshany

Keyword(s):

Human Subjects ◽

Age Groups ◽

Healthcare Setting ◽

Fixation Time ◽

Gaze Tracking ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Eye Fixations ◽

Environmental Attributes ◽

Architectural Features ◽

Healthcare Environments

Objective: This study aims to investigate the elements of wayfinding in indoor complex healthcare environments. Background: The study replicates Ghamari and Pati’s 2018 study to identify the environmental attributes that attract eye fixation during wayfinding by objectively tracking eye movements and fixation as healthy subjects navigate through a complex, unfamiliar indoor healthcare setting. The study addressed what do people look at while navigating in unfamiliar healthcare environments? What are the relative time periods of eye fixations on different visual environmental elements of the healthcare-designed environments? And what role do visual environmental attributes in healthcare facilities, such as configuration, color, art, directories, maps, furniture, and so on, play during the wayfinding process. Method: Twenty-four adults in different genders and various age groups participated in this study and navigated five routes with different degrees of difficulty. The sequence of the destinations in this study was randomized. The data were collected by tracking gaze fixations while human subjects navigated an indoor complex healthcare environment. Results: The findings show that identifying signs (29.1%), informative signs (20.8%), and architectural features (11.3%) constituted the most frequent elements attracting gaze, substantially more than the other classes of information. Four types of signage (identifying signs, informative signs, directional, and safety/regulatory signs) were accounted for 62.3% of the total gaze fixation time. Conclusions: The comparison of the ordered list based on frequencies and time of eye fixations on various elements developed in Ghamari and Pati’s study shows a vast degree of similarities.

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Baseline assessment of therapeutic injection practices in Pakistan in 2020: a cross-sectional study

Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association ◽

10.47391/jpma.0003 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 16-21

Author(s):

Syed Sharaf Ali Shah ◽

Safdar Pasha ◽

Nikhat Iftikar ◽

Altaf Ahmed Soomro ◽

Nazia Farrukh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Injection Equipment ◽

Public And Private ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

The Public ◽

Injection Safety

Objective: To assess the magnitude of the problem of injection safety in public and private health facilities in two districts of Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between October and December 2020 among public and private health facilities of two districts of Pakistan: Gujarat in Punjab and Larkana in Sindh provinces. A convenient sample size of 60 healthcare facilities (30 from each district) was taken due to time and resource constraint. Six data collection tools were used which included structured observations and interviews with injection prescribers and providers based on WHO Revised Tool C, which were finalised after piloting. Results: Reuse of injection equipment was not observed in any of the 60 health facilities. In exit interviews of 120 patients, it was found that 27 (22.5%) patients reported receiving an injection, while 11 (9.2%) were prescribed intravenous (IV) drips. More injections and drips were prescribed in the private sector (n=15; 25.0%) in comparison with the public sector (n=12; 20.0%). Slightly higher proportion of IV drips were prescribed by the private providers when compared to public sector healthcare providers: 6 (10.0%) vs 5 (8.3%) respectively. Most of the prescribers (n=58; 96.7%) reported that patients who attended public and private health facilities demanded injectable medicines. Used syringes and drips were noted to be visible in open containers and buckets for final disposal in 20 (33.3%) assessed health facilities. Continuou...

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Evaluation of Bacterial Contamination on Prehospital Ambulances Before and After Disinfection

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x1800095x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 602-606

Author(s):

Roohollah Farhadloo ◽

Jalil Goodarzi Far ◽

Mohammad Reza Azadeh ◽

Saeed Shams ◽

Mohammad Parvaresh-Masoud

Keyword(s):

Nosocomial Infections ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Microbial Contamination ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Publication Type ◽

Bacterial Agent ◽

Before And After ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Effective Role ◽

Major Factors

AbstractBackgroundThe contamination of the environment, ambulance equipment, and staff hands consequently are major factors which create nosocomial infections in emergency patients. The contamination of equipment and devices plays an important role in nosocomial infections.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a disinfectant on the rate of microbial contamination of ambulances in Qom Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Qom, Iran.MethodsThis is a quasi-experimental study with a before-after design in order to determine microbial contaminations at the rear and front cabin of ambulances, as well as medical equipment being utilized in Qom EMS. Saya sept-HP-2% solution was used for disinfection. Bacteriological standard methods were used to identify the contaminations.ResultsThe contamination rates before and after use of disinfection solution were 52% and eight percent, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most commonly isolated bacterial agent from the equipment (53%). In all equipment, the contamination level has shown a significant reduction after applying disinfectant.Conclusions:In spite of the fact that the rate of infection from ambulance equipment is high, the results showed that the use of the suitable disinfectant had an effective role in the reduction of bacteria.FarhadlooR, Goodarzi FarJ, AzadehMR, ShamsS, Parvaresh-MasoudM.Evaluation of bacterial contamination on prehospital ambulances before and after disinfection. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(6):602–606.

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Waterborne microorganisms and biofilms related to hospital infections: strategies for prevention and control in healthcare facilities

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2015.037 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 52-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Raquel Vannucci Capelletti ◽

Ângela Maria Moraes

Keyword(s):

Nosocomial Infections ◽

Distribution System ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Water Distribution ◽

Water Distribution System ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Hospital Infections ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Microbiological Control ◽

And Control

Water is the main stimulus for the development of microorganisms, and its flow has an important role in the spreading of contaminants. In hospitals, the water distribution system requires special attention since it can be a source of pathogens, including those in the form of biofilms often correlated with resistance of microorganisms to various treatments. In this paper, information relevant to cases of nosocomial infections involving water circuits as a source of contaminants is compiled, with emphasis on the importance of microbiological control strategies to prevent the installation, spreading and growth of microorganisms in hospitals. An overview of the worldwide situation is provided, with emphasis on Brazilian hospitals. Different approaches normally used to control the occurrence of nosocomial infections due to waterborne contaminants are analyzed, and the use of the polysaccharide chitosan for this specific application is briefly discussed.

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