Infection Prevention in Practice最新文献

{"title":"Knowledge, attitudes and practices on prevention and control of high-consequence infectious diseases and critical care among intensive care personnel in Rwanda: a cross-sectional survey","authors":"L. Schneider ,&nbsp;M. Umutoni ,&nbsp;V. Ndagijimana ,&nbsp;M. Abdelrhman ,&nbsp;T. Cronen ,&nbsp;M. Nkeshimana ,&nbsp;P. Banguti ,&nbsp;C. Karamira ,&nbsp;E. Seruyange ,&nbsp;T. Piening ,&nbsp;A. Phuti ,&nbsp;T. Paerisch ,&nbsp;F. Mockenhaupt ,&nbsp;C. Mambo Muvunyi ,&nbsp;M. Gertler ,&nbsp;E. Rwagasore","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Intensive care personnel in countries prone to outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs), such as Ebola virus disease, stand at the forefront of caring for affected patients. This study describes the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of intensive care personnel in Rwanda on the management and infection prevention and control (IPC) of HCIDs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional survey was carried out among staff working in the 4 operational intensive care units in September 2022. The self-administered questionnaire collected information on participants' background and their KAP on critical care (CC), HCIDs and IPC.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 107 participants, 67 (62.6%) had less than 4 years' work experience in CC. 41 (38.3%) of them had attended trainings on IPC since 2020. In univariate analyses, a higher knowledge score was associated with being a physician, years of working in CC and differed by hospital. A large proportion perceived their knowledge on CC as good or very good (58.0%) and their everyday risk of acquiring an infection as at least high (48.6%). Overall, 72.9% reported compliance with hand hygiene measures. However, around a quarter of participants reported rarely or never avoiding recapping of needles or never or rarely taking additional precautions during aerosol-generating procedures.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Staff had a moderate knowledge base and might benefit from continuous learning on CC and HCIDs. The perception of high risk of infection at work stands in contrast with lack of compliance with basic IPC practices which should be reinforced to avoid preventable and potentially fatal infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100398"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142653446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic prophylaxis practice in gastrointestinal surgery in five hospitals in southern Benin","authors":"Dessièdé Ariane Fiogbe ,&nbsp;Angèle Modupè Dohou ,&nbsp;Carine Laurence Yehouenou ,&nbsp;Séverine Henrard ,&nbsp;Françoise Van Bambeke ,&nbsp;Francis Moïse Djidénou Dossou ,&nbsp;Olivia Dalleur","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Benin's healthcare system is characterized by a lack of local guidelines for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP), which is essential to prevent surgical site infection.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To audit compliance for SAP practices in gastrointestinal surgery.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were prospectively collected from gastrointestinal surgery departments in five hospitals. Over a four month period, SAP was assessed using five conventional criteria (indication, choice of antibiotic, dosage, timing, and duration of administration) among patients admitted for Altemeier class 1 or 2 procedures. Three guidelines were used as reference: World Health Organization (WHO), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)and French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (SFAR).</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Of 68 surgical interventions, overall compliance with WHO, ASHP, and SFAR was observed in zero (0.0%), one case (1.5%) and two cases (2.9%), respectively. Compliance with indication varied according to the guidelines: 65 (95.6%) were compliant with WHO and ASHP and 47 cases (69.11%) with SFAR. Among compliant cases, the antibiotics administered were rarely selected according to guidelines: WHO, 2 (2.9%) and ASHP, 2 (2.9%), and SFAR, 3 (4.4%). Drug dosage compliance varied from 20 (29.4%) (SFAR) to 49 (72.0%) (ASHP). Timings were respected in 47 (69.1%; WHO), 45 (66.2%; ASHP) and 9 cases (13.2%; SFAR). The number of cases compliant with antibiotic prophylaxis duration were 13 (19.1%; WHO), 17 (25.0%; ASHP) and 16 (23.5%; SFAR).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The SAP compliance rate in gastrointestinal surgery based on the five conventional criteria was very low. SAP guidelines must be implemented appropriately for local bacteriological epidemiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100405"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142422318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nosocomial meningitis diagnostic test characteristics: a systematic review","authors":"David Granton ,&nbsp;Joseph Brown ,&nbsp;Shannon M. Fernando ,&nbsp;Dipayan Chaudhuri ,&nbsp;Isaac I. Bogoch ,&nbsp;Christine Soong ,&nbsp;Marina Englesakis ,&nbsp;Bram Rochwerg ,&nbsp;Eddy Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The incidence of nosocomial meningitis, and utility of lumbar puncture, is unclear in hospitalized patients without preceding neurosurgery or head trauma.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>We planned for a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate accuracy of clinical features and diagnostic utility of lumbar puncture in nosocomial meningitis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We searched MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process/ePubs, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science from inception until June 5, 2024. We included studies evaluating utility of clinical features, or lumbar puncture, to rule out nosocomial meningitis in patients without preceding neurosurgery or head trauma. We excluded studies examining community acquired meningitis, outbreaks, HIV positive individuals, and case reports. Outcomes included incidence, risk factors and diagnostic accuracy of clinical features for nosocomial meningitis, and lumbar puncture complications. Given few included studies and heterogeneity, we could only summarize incidence of nosocomial meningitis.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Of 13,302 citations, we reviewed 197 manuscripts and included 6. There were 23 of 333 (6.9%, very low certainty) positive lumbar punctures among individuals who underwent lumbar puncture to rule out nosocomial meningitis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>There were insufficient data to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar puncture in nosocomial meningitis in patients without preceding neurosurgery or head trauma. Very low certainty evidence indicates the incidence of nosocomial meningitis is low in this population. Given complications and costs associated with lumbar puncture, future studies should evaluate its utility in nosocomial meningitis. In the meantime, it may be reasonable to reserve lumbar puncture to instances of high suspicion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100402"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142422316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in entire acute bronchiolitis seasons before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain","authors":"Juan Manuel Rius-Peris ,&nbsp;María del Carmen Vicent Castelló ,&nbsp;Marta Pareja León ,&nbsp;Sara Pons Morales ,&nbsp;Ana Amat Madramany ,&nbsp;Jorge Pantoja-Martínez ,&nbsp;Raquel Gil Piquer ,&nbsp;Nuria Roda Martínez ,&nbsp;Alicia Coret Sinisterra ,&nbsp;Francisca Castillo Ochando ,&nbsp;Francisco Javier Caballero Mora ,&nbsp;María Teresa Moya Díaz-Pintado","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Paediatric acute bronchiolitis normally occurs from October to April in the temperate northern hemisphere, peaking in January. Nonpharmacological measures to control the spread of COVID-19 resulted in a decrease in the number of cases of bronchiolitis during the 2020–21 season. The discontinuation of these measures created an uncertain scenario.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To describe the epidemiological evolution of acute bronchiolitis seasons and the changes in the demographics of the affected population before, during, and after the implementation of nonpharmacological interventions for COVID-19 in Spain.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a multicentre and descriptive study. A total of 6,334 infants aged up to 12 months who were diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis were recruited from sixteen Spanish hospitals. We collected data from participants from September 1st, 2021, through August 31st, 2023, as part of the ECEALHBA research project. The study periods were before (P1), during (P2), and after (P3) the COVID-19 pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>In P2 and after the discontinuation of nonpharmacological interventions, an unexpected increase in the number of acute bronchiolitis cases was observed from June–August 2021, resulting in an out-of-season peak. A subsequent peak was observed in November 2021, earlier than expected for the 2021-22 season. In the 2022-23 season, admissions followed a historical trend, with a greater number of cases than in the two previous seasons. Statistically significant differences in the length of stay (p&lt;0.001), number of RSV infections (p=0.021), and number of paediatric intensive care unit admissions (p&lt;0.001) were observed among the periods.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Two out-of-season peaks in the number of acute bronchiolitis cases were observed in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. However, following the relaxation of nonpharmacological intervention measures, the peak observed in 2022–2023, although occurring 2–6 weeks earlier, was more similar to the peaks observed in the prepandemic seasons. Additionally, increased case severity was observed during these periods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100399"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142422317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia: implications for infection prevention and control","authors":"Akeza Awealom Asgedom,&nbsp;Gebru Hailu Redae","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) are compromised during emergencies and in the post-conflict period. The IPC-WASH status of primary healthcare facilities in Tigray, Ethiopia, is not known. The aim of the study was to assess the IPC-WASH status of facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>As part of a cross-sectional study, data were collected from January to February 2024 in 32 randomly selected primary healthcare facilities using an electronic Open Data Kit (ODK) based on a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the IPC-WASH services. The analyzed data were compared with the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) service ladders and presented in texts, figures and tables.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Nearly seven out of ten primary healthcare facilities had improved water sources, nine out of ten had latrines with limited sanitation facilities, and four out of ten had handwashing facilities. Eight out of ten facilities had no access to personal protective equipment, and most facilities surveyed had very limited waste management services, IPC capacity building and IPC committee. According to JMP service ladders, almost one in four primary healthcare facilities had basic water supply, one in ten had basic sanitation, basic hygiene and basic waste disposal.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The overall result of the study shows that access to IPC-WASH is low in primary healthcare facilities in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia. Collaborative efforts to improve access to basic IPC-WASH facilities and IPC capacity building are essential to improve the quality of care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100397"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142422544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of transmission prevention behavior among Tuberculosis patients in Surabaya, Indonesia","authors":"Ni Njoman Juliasih ,&nbsp;Luluk Fadhoh Sakinah ,&nbsp;Reny Mareta Sari ,&nbsp;Hudi Winarso ,&nbsp;Salmon Charles P.T. Siahaan ,&nbsp;Erik Jaya Gunawan","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Tuberculosis (TB) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, causing significant health challenges globally. Meanwhile, Indonesia ranks second worldwide in terms of TB prevalence, with East Java being among the most affected provinces. Surabaya, in particular, a major city reported approximately 4.628 cases in 2021, underscoring the urgent need to prevent transmission through behavior of patients. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze determinants of transmission behavior among TB patients in Surabaya, Indonesia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The methodology used in this study was a cross-sectional design and the participants were 144 TB patients at three community health centers in Surabaya, selected using simple random sampling. Variables including knowledge level, supportive behavior, and medication adherence were analyzed and data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire. Additionally, data analysis was performed with statistical methods to determine the significance of variables.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results showed that knowledge (<em>P</em>-value = &lt;0.001), supportive behavior (<em>P</em>-value = 0.001), and medication adherence (<em>P</em>-value = 0.004) had a significant effect on transmission prevention behavior among TB patients.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Based on our results, it was concluded that higher knowledge level, supportive behavior, and medication adherence had a significant correlation with increased social support provided by patients in preventing and controlling TB transmission. Therefore, there is a need to implement targeted programs to enhance prevention behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100404"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142422314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Contribution of the Whole Genome Sequencing to surveillance programs of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) strains”","authors":"Natalia García Allende ,&nbsp;Verónica E. Álvarez ,&nbsp;Adrián Gonzales Machuca ,&nbsp;María Piekar ,&nbsp;Eduardo J. Carpio Diaz ,&nbsp;Carolina Molina ,&nbsp;Josefina Campos ,&nbsp;Bárbara Fox ,&nbsp;Nicolas Mendiondo ,&nbsp;Andrea P. Aguilar ,&nbsp;Liliana Fernández-Canigia ,&nbsp;María P. Quiroga ,&nbsp;Daniela Centrón","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100401","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100401","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100401"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11513509/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142523259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing","authors":"Syed A. Sattar ,&nbsp;Bahram Zargar ,&nbsp;Jason Tetro","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Viruses pose a wide-ranging and significant risk to human health through acute and persistent infections that may confer risks for sequelae including musculoskeletal, immunological, and oncological disease. Infection prevention and control (IPAC) remains a highly effective, generic, global, and cost-effective means to mitigate virus spread. IPAC recommends proper disinfection of high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES) to reduce the risk of direct and indirect virus spread. The United States, Canada and many other countries mandate pre-market assessments of HITES disinfectants against viruses and other types of microbial pathogens. However, there are basic disparities in the regulation of disinfectants. Such incongruity in test protocols interferes with the determination of the true breadth of the microbicidal potential of a given product in the field where target pathogens are often unknown or may be encountered as mixtures. This review examines the various methodological disparities and recommends a more cohesive and harmonized approach. While there is particular emphasis on viruses here, an overall harmonization in microbicide testing of HITES disinfectants will greatly assist the numerous stakeholders involved in IPAC.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100395"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000593/pdfft?md5=7b013fc8e84836403eeab8c7c1b79514&pid=1-s2.0-S2590088924000593-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142274407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of an Autonomous Sanitary Sterilisation Ultraviolet Machine (ASSUM) on terminal disinfection of surgical theaters and rooms of an intensive-intermediate care unit","authors":"Sabina Herrera ,&nbsp;Ignasi Roca ,&nbsp;Ana Del Río ,&nbsp;Javier Fernández ,&nbsp;Cristina Pitart ,&nbsp;Isabel Fortes ,&nbsp;Blanca Torralbo ,&nbsp;Gemina Santana ,&nbsp;Romina Parejo-González ,&nbsp;Andreu Veà-Baró ,&nbsp;Josep Maria Campistol ,&nbsp;Mireia Aguilar ,&nbsp;Sergi Degea ,&nbsp;Climent Casals-Pascual ,&nbsp;Alex Soriano ,&nbsp;José A. Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Ultraviolet- C (UV–C) light is effective for reducing environmental bioburden in hospitals, and the use of robots to deliver it may be advantageous.</p></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><p>To evaluate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of an autonomous programmable UV-C robot in surgical and intensive care unit (ICU) rooms of a tertiary hospital.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>During ten consecutive months, the device was used in six theatres where cardiac, colorectal and orthopaedic surgeries were performed, and in the rooms previously occupied by patients subjected to contact precautions of a 14-bed ICU. Surgical site infection (SSI) rates of procedures performed in the UV-cleaned theatres were compared with those of the previous year. Incidence in clinical samples of ICU-acquired multiple-drug resistant (MDR) microorganisms was compared with that of the same period of the previous year. An UV-C exposure study done by semi-quantitative dosimeters and a survey of the bioburden on surfaces were carried out.</p></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><p>SSI rates in the pre- and post-intervention periods were 8.67% (80/922) and 7.5% (61/813), respectively (p=0.37). Incidence of target microorganisms in clinical samples remained unchanged (38.4 vs. 39.4 per 10,000 patient-days, p=0.94). All the dosimeters exposed to ≤1 meter received ≥500 mJ/cm². The bacterial load on surfaces decreased after the intervention, particularly in ICU rooms (from 4.57±7.4 CFU to 0.27±0.8 CFU, p&lt;0.0001).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Deployment of an UV-C robot in surgical and ICU rooms is feasible, ensures adequate delivery of germicidal UV-C light and reduces the environmental bacterial burden. Rates of surgical site infections or acquisition of MDR in clinical samples of critically-ill patients remained unchanged.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100396"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259008892400060X/pdfft?md5=024a0d705dc6b17c7c6aa1506801f1f2&pid=1-s2.0-S259008892400060X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142164862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An assessment of infection prevention and control implementation in Malawian hospitals using the WHO Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF) tool","authors":"Dorica Ng'ambi ,&nbsp;Thomasena O'Byrne ,&nbsp;Emmie Jingini ,&nbsp;Hope Chadwala ,&nbsp;Owen Musopole ,&nbsp;Wala Kamchedzera ,&nbsp;Tara Tancred ,&nbsp;Nicholas Feasey","doi":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.infpip.2024.100388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Infection prevention and control (IPC) is important for the reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the IPC Assessment Framework (IPCAF) tool to assess the level of IPC implementation and to identify areas for improvement in healthcare facilities.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A cross -sectional survey was conducted using the WHO IPCAF tool from May to June 2023. The aim was to provide a baseline assessment of the IPC programme and activities within health care facilities in Malawi. Forty healthcare facilities were invited to participate. IPC teams were requested to complete the IPCAF and return the scores. The IPCAF tool scores were assessed as recommended in the WHO IPCAF tool.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The response rate was 82.5%. The median IPCAF score was 445 out of 800 corresponding to an intermediate IPC implementation level. The results revealed that 66.7% facilities were at intermediate level, 26.4% at basic level, and 6.9% at advanced level. Most facilities (76%) had an IPC program in place with clear objectives and an IPC focal person. Few had a dedicated budget for IPC. The IPCAF domain “monitoring/audit of IPC practices and feedback” had the lowest median score of 15/100, and in 90% of facilities, no monitoring, audit, and feedback was done. HAI surveillance median score was 40/100, workload, staffing and bed occupancy median score was 45/100.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Whilst there has been some degree of implementation of WHO IPC guidelines in Malawi's healthcare system, there is significant room for improvement. The IPCAF tool revealed that monitoring/audit and feedback, HAI surveillance and workload, staffing and bed occupancy need to be strengthened. The IPCAF scoring system may need reconsidering given the centrality of these domains to IPC.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33492,"journal":{"name":"Infection Prevention in Practice","volume":"6 4","pages":"Article 100388"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000520/pdfft?md5=8b28b2547fe669741f33b412897af756&pid=1-s2.0-S2590088924000520-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142096081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}