Nosocomial infection control committee's role in a nosocomial infection at an East Algiers hospital

Abstract

Nosocomial infections remain a serious public health problem with serious consequences. Hospital hygiene surveys are a basic tool in the surveillance and control of nosocomial infections. These surveys are also a tool for raising the awareness and information of the nursing staff. The nosocomial infection control committee was asked to carry out an epidemiological survey within a general surgery department following a nosocomial infection outbreak. During this survey, 100 samples taken from surfaces, small equipment and medical devices were collected. The results showed that 80 samples (80%) were positive. The most isolated bacteria were: 27,50% Micrococcus spp., 27,50% Corynebacterium spp.,25% Staphylococcus spp., 21,25% Bacillus spp., 20% Enterococcus spp., 10% Enterobacter cloacae, 5% Klebsiella pneumoniae and 3,75% Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following this investigation, corrective and preventive measures were taken for the biocleaning of surfaces and the disinfection and sterilization of equipments. The nosocomial infection control committee plays a key role in the epidemiological surveillance and control of nosocomial infections, prevention can only be conceived as a global and multidisciplinary action.