Abstract
BackgroundThe 2013 update of the Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) Guideline outlined recommendations to prevent the spread of CF respiratory pathogens. We aimed to investigate the current infection control practices used in Australian and New Zealand (NZ) CF centers.MethodsTwo online surveys were distributed to Australian and NZ CF centers regarding the uptake of selected IP&C recommendations. One survey was distributed to all the Medical Directors and Lead CF Nurses and the second survey was distributed to all the Lead CF Physiotherapists.ResultsThe response rate was 60% (60/100) for medical/nursing and 58% (14/24) for physiotherapy. Over 90% (55/60) of CF centers followed CF-specific infection control guidelines and consistent infection control practices were seen in most CF centers; 76% (41/54) had implemented segregation strategies for ambulatory care and no CF centers housed people with CF in shared inpatient accommodation. However, the application of contact precautions (wearing gloves and apron/gown) by healthcare professionals when reviewing a CF person was variable between CF center respondents but was most often used when seeing CF persons with MRSA infection in both ambulatory care and hospital admission (20/50, 40% and 42/45, 93% of CF centers, respectively). Mask wearing by people with CF was implemented into 61% (36/59) of centers. Hospital rooms were cleaned daily in 79% (37/47) of CF centers and the ambulatory care consult rooms were always cleaned between consults (49/49, 100%) and at the end of the clinic session (51/51, 100%); however the staff member tasked with cleaning changed with 37% (18/49) of CF centers responding that CF multidisciplinary team (MDT) members cleaned between patients whereas at the end of the clinic session, only 12% (6/51) of the CF MDT cleaned the consult room.ConclusionsOverall, Australian and NZ CF centers have adopted many recommendations from the IP&C. Although, the application of contact precautions was inconsistent and had overall a low level of adoption in CF centers. In ~ 25% of centers, mixed waiting areas occurred in the ambulatory care. Given the variability of responses, additional work is required to achieve greater consistency between centers.
Highlights
The 2013 update of the Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) Guideline outlined recommendations to prevent the spread of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) respiratory pathogens
The authors reported many of the updated recommendations had been adopted in US CF centers [5] the adoption of the IP&C recommendations outside of the US is unknown
We aimed to investigate the current infection control practices used in Australian and New Zealand CF centers including a focus on logistics of care, mask wear and cleaning
Summary
The 2013 update of the Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) Guideline outlined recommendations to prevent the spread of CF respiratory pathogens. We aimed to investigate the current infection control practices used in Australian and New Zealand (NZ) CF centers. The Infection Recommendations for Patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) were initially published in 2003 [1] and recently updated as Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) Guideline for CF: 2013 Update [2] in response to the emerging evidence of CF respiratory pathogen transmission. The guidelines outline recommendations to reduce cross-infection in CF centers, some of the recommendations have been debated in CF medical and lay communities [3, 4]. We aimed to investigate the current infection control practices used in Australian and New Zealand CF centers including a focus on logistics of care, mask wear and cleaning
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