Implementation of a structured practical activity to analyse student healthcare worker perceptions and compliance with prescribed infection control procedures

Background Non-compliance with infection control guidelines has been reported within healthcare settings. Infection control education in undergraduate healthcare education programs forms a critical component in preparing student healthcare workers for vocational roles. Methods Clinical sciences students (nutrition science, paramedicine, pharmacy, podiatry, optometry studying for qualifications recognised by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) self-reported hygiene perceptions and practices and collected microbiological swabs from personal or medical equipment items before and after recommended disinfection procedures. Results Cultivable microorganisms were isolated from 95% of student medical equipment items. Disinfection significantly reduced microbial growth on student medical equipment items (P < 0.05). Conclusions Student perceptions of infection control procedures do not always correlate with infection control practice. Infection control education of undergraduate healthcare students requires ongoing assessment to ensure successful translation into clinical practice.

Application Notes: APD Handwash Android App – A tool for evaluating the effectiveness of handwashing

Handwashing is a basic infection control practice that needs to be performed correctly to be effective. In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, its correct practice is emphasized by public health institutions. However, turning a practice into a habit requires acceptance for adoption of the twenty-second proper procedure to which difficulty remains. To promote and convince the average user, we developed the “APD Handwash app” as a home-use demonstration/education tool to the pitfalls and need of proper handwashing practices through the detection of assigned clean or dirty areas on the hand in a quantitative manner to provide a gauge to the effectiveness of washing when used before and after washing.

Nurses Practice Regarding Infection Control Measures during The Second Stage of Labor: A Multicenter Study

Context: Infection prevention remains a significant public health challenge for healthcare systems, especially in maternity and delivery units. Good understanding and compliance of nurses with infection control measures during delivery are essential factors that improve maternal and neonatal outcomes and decrease morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses' practice regarding infection control measures during the second stage of labor in multiple centers. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive observational study was adopted in this study. The study population included all nurses working in labor rooms of four hospitals (100 nurses), namely Suez Canal University Hospital, Zagazig University Hospital, Ismailia General Hospital, And Zagazig General Hospital. Data collection tool encompassed a structured interviewing questionnaire to assess nurses' general characteristics, physical and organizational barriers that prevent nurses from complying with infection control measures, infection control practice checklist to assess nurses` compliance with infection control measures during the second stage of labor. Results: The highest percentage of the studied nurses' age was between 19-<29 (56.6%, 63.8%). Near half were technical nurses (43.4%, 44.7%). The majority of the studied nurses had not had periodic checks. Also, most of them were vaccinated against viral hepatitis B (86.8%, 91.5%). There was a statistically significant difference between Ismalia and Zagazig hospitals in physical barriers. The highest mean percent for infection control practice was for perineal care 100%, using the invasive device during labor 92%, preparing birthing room and its equipment 75.9%. A satisfactory infection control practice was revealed among 88% of the studied nurses. The satisfactory practice of nurses was 100%, 92.1%, 86.9%, 44.1% in Zagazig General Hospital, Ismalia University Hospital, Zagazig University Hospital, Ismalia General Hospital, respectively. Conclusion: The result of the study concluded that most nurses' practice regarding infection control in the delivery room was satisfactory. The study recommended upgrading and qualifying nurses in the labor room to improve their practical skills in Obstetric Nursing.

Facemasks for Source Control: Testing Influenza Transfer to Bedside Tables

Background: Research testing human study participants regarding the effectiveness of face masks in preventing influenza transfer or transmission is limited. In this pilot study, we investigated the following question: In influenza-positive veterans, what is the effect of face-mask wearing in comparison to not wearing a face mask on influenza transfer to bedside tables measured for 2 hours per condition over a 10-week period during the 2019–2020 influenza season Methods: Influenza-positive veterans with influenza symptom onset ≤ 120 hours admitted to the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center were recruited to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria included critical illness requiring an oxygen mask or intubation. The Precept® FluidGard® 160 Procedure Mask 15300, Precept Medical Products, Inc., Arden, NC was worn by all participants during the two-hour intervention period. Surface swabs were used to measure the presence of influenza on bedside tables. CDC/NIOSH tested for influenza A and B from surface samples and facemasks using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (TaqMan ThermoFisher Scientific). Demographic information was collected (Table 1). A study questionnaire collected qualitative data on tolerability and feasibility of wearing a facemask when hospitalized with influenza. Institutional Review Board approval was granted. Results: From January 2, 2020, to March 11, 2020, 8 participants completed the study. Mean age was 67 years, all were male. Of these 8 participants, 6 had influenza A and 2 had influenza B. Half were diabetic; all received oseltamivir. Relative room humidity ranged from 15.6% to 39.8%. Neither influenza A nor B was detected by qPCR on bedside tables for any of the 8 participants under either face-mask–wearing condition. All participants reported that wearing the face mask was easy or very easy; of these, 5 reported experiencing warmth from the mask. Also, 50% of participants selected 2 hours as the time they could tolerate wearing a mask; the other 25% specified they could wear the face mask for 3 hours or 5 hours or more, respectively. Conclusions: In this pilot study, we demonstrated that wearing face masks is a tolerable infection control practice for providing source control for inpatients with influenza and will guide future research. Because a major limitation was the small size of the study, associated with lack of viral capture, a larger study is planned. Using face masks for source control among inpatients with influenza and other respiratory virus infections should be considered a standard infection control practice.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

Multidisciplinary simulation training for endotracheal intubation during COVID-19 in one Hong Kong regional hospital: strengthening of existing procedures and preparedness

IntroductionIn early 2020, our hospital responded with high alertness when novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 appeared. A hospital-based training programme was rapidly arranged to prepare staff for the imminent threat.ObjectiveWe developed a hospital-wide multidisciplinary infection control training programme on endotracheal intubation for healthcare workers to minimise nosocomial spread of COVID-19 during this high-stress and time-sensitive risky procedure.MethodologyMajor stakeholders (Quality & Safety Department, Infection Control Team, Central Nursing Division, high-risk clinical departments and hospital training centre) formed a training programme task group. This group was tasked with developing high-fidelity scenario-based simulation training curriculum for COVID-19 endotracheal intubation with standard workflow and infection control practice. This group then implemented and evaluated the training programme for its effectiveness.Results101 training classes of 2-hour session were conducted from 5 February to 18 March 2020, involving 1415 hospital staff (~81% of target participants with training needs) either inside the hospital training centre or as in situ simulation training (intensive care unit or accident and emergency department). Learners’ satisfaction was reflected by overall positive response percentage at 90%. Opinions of participating staff were incorporated into the standard airway management and infection control practice for endotracheal intubation of adult patients with COVID-19. Thirty-five patients with COVID-19 were intubated with the current workflow and guideline without any nosocomial transmission.ConclusionAn early planned and well-structured multidisciplinary hospital-wide simulation training programme was organised expeditiously to provide extensive staff coverage. The insight and experience gained from this project is valuable for future infectious disease challenges.

Modeling Effectiveness of Testing Strategies to Prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes—United States, 2020

Background Identifying asymptomatic individuals early through serial testing is recommended to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes, both in response to an outbreak (“outbreak testing” of residents and healthcare personnel) and in facilities without outbreaks (“nonoutbreak testing” of healthcare personnel). The effectiveness of outbreak testing and isolation with or without nonoutbreak testing was evaluated. Methods Using published SARS-CoV-2 transmission parameters, the fraction of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions prevented through serial testing (weekly, every 3 days, or daily) and isolation of asymptomatic persons compared with symptom-based testing and isolation was evaluated through mathematical modeling using a Reed-Frost model to estimate the percentage of cases prevented (ie, “effectiveness”) through either outbreak testing alone or outbreak plus nonoutbreak testing. The potential effect of simultaneous decreases (by 10%) in the effectiveness of isolating infected individuals when instituting testing strategies was also evaluated. Results Modeling suggests that outbreak testing could prevent 54% (weekly testing with 48-hour test turnaround) to 92% (daily testing with immediate results and 50% relative sensitivity) of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Adding nonoutbreak testing could prevent up to an additional 8% of SARS-CoV-2 infections (depending on test frequency and turnaround time). However, added benefits of nonoutbreak testing were mostly negated if accompanied by decreases in infection control practice. Conclusions When combined with high-quality infection control practices, outbreak testing could be an effective approach to preventing COVID-19 in nursing homes, particularly if optimized through increased test frequency and use of tests with rapid turnaround.

Awareness and Practice of Infection Control Protocol Amid Covid-19 Pandemic in Private Dental Clinics in Saudi Arabia

Aim: The purpose of our research was to assess the knowledge and awareness regarding infection control practice against coronavirus infection in various dental clinics in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A descriptive survey was conducted amongst 200 dentists. The study was conceptualised in riyadh elm university, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and inlcuded dentists from various dental clinics across kingdom of saudi arabia in the month of november,2020. A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions was distributed, based upon knowledge of COVID-19, transmission as well as prevention strategies that can be implemented in dental clinics for stopping the chain of outbreak of this pandemic. The data was analyzed with the help of descriptive statistics using SPSS 25 software. Results: 71% of study participants felt the need for using N-95 masks routinely during patient treatment. An astounding number of participants (92%), believed that there have been significant changes in infection control after COVID-19 pandemic. 65% of participants believed that High volume evacuators (HVE) suction devices, as well as High efficiency articulate air (HEPA) filters, need to be used to control aerosol spread so as to prevent COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Dentists in Saudi Arabia showed satisfactory knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19. Improving dentists’ level of knowledge could be achieved through increasing their accessibility to materials provided by dental health care authorities, which specifies the best and safest approaches for dealing with patients during and after the outbreak.

Changes in infection control practice for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between 2020 and 2021: A nationwide questionnaire survey in Japan

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced current infection control practices in the healthcare setting. We surveyed 74 hospitals in Japan regarding changes in their infection control practices or policies between 2020 and the present. We found that the current hospital infection control practices for COVID-19 are adequate.