Prevention Of Hospital-acquired Infections Research Articles

Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) Prevention Practices Among Medical Students in a Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: The prevention of healthcare-associated infections is central to the provision of safe, high-quality healthcare. Students are a part of the healthcare team and are at increased risk of these infections. This study seeks to assess Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) prevention practices among medical students in a Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in July 2019 among medical students using a Multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using the IBM SPSS 28 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Results: Almost all (99.1%) of students claim that they wash their hands before and after seeing patients, 81.9% wash their hands before meals, 57.4% wash their hands before performing invasive bedside procedures, 72.7% wash before and after examining patients, 30.2% wash their hands before &after touching wounds, but not when gloved, 63.9% wash their hands between two different procedures on different patients. Concerning wearing face/nose masks 86.8% said they wore masks when transporting coughing patients out of the ward, 70.3% stated that they wore masks when irrigating septic wounds, 60.7% said they wore face masks whenever they were attending to patients with fecal incontinence, 76.3% said they wore face mask whenever they were delivering a baby of an HIV Positive woman, 51.6% said they wore face mask whenever they were visiting neonatal intensive care unit. The majority of respondents (83.6%) have never sustained a needle stick injury before, main reasons for non-use of PPE include High cost (24.7), PPE Not available (951.1%), difficulty in using (15.1%), No reason (9.1%). Conclusion: Generally, more than a third 150 (68.5%) of respondents had good practice of HAI prevention, while 69 (31.55) had a poor practice of HAIs prevention. There is also a need to ensure that the availability of PPEs, hand washing and waste disposal equipment is ensured, while medical students are also taught the importance of good equipment hygiene.

Harnessing of Artificial Intelligence for the Diagnosis and Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infections: A Systematic Review.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are the most common adverse events in healthcare and constitute a major global public health concern. Surveillance represents the foundation for the effective prevention and control of HAIs, yet conventional surveillance is costly and labor intensive. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have the potential to support the development of HAI surveillance algorithms for the understanding of HAI risk factors, the improvement of patient risk stratification as well as the prediction and timely detection and prevention of infections. AI-supported systems have so far been explored for clinical laboratory testing and imaging diagnosis, antimicrobial resistance profiling, antibiotic discovery and prediction-based clinical decision support tools in terms of HAIs. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current literature on AI applications in the field of HAIs and discuss the future potentials of this emerging technology in infection practice. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this study examined the articles in databases including PubMed and Scopus until November 2023, which were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 162 included articles. By elucidating the advancements in the field, we aim to highlight the potential applications of AI in the field, report related issues and shortcomings and discuss the future directions.

Enhancing Hospital-Acquired Infection Prevention Practices: Strategies for Healthcare Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Settings: Insights from a Study on Healthcare Workers in Western Uganda

In low- and middle-income hospital settings, hospital-acquired infections can occur among patients or arise among hospital staff, posing a significant challenge. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and the associated factors among healthcare workers at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Kabarole district, western Uganda. Conducted between January and March 2011, this hospital-based cross-sectional study employed simple random sampling to select 236 participants, achieving a 100% response rate. Structured self-administered questionnaires were utilized for data collection. Descriptive analysis was employed to present the main findings, revealing that 90% of participants had good knowledge and 57.2% held positive attitudes towards HAI prevention. However, only 36% demonstrated good practices in this regard, indicating suboptimal scores. Significant associations were found between levels of education and work experience and attitudes and practices related to HAI prevention (P value <0.005). Despite respondents exhibiting good knowledge and positive attitudes towards HAI prevention, this did not consistently translate into appropriate practices. Further, education level and work experience emerged as independent risk factors influencing attitudes and practices concerning HAI prevention. To bridge this gap, continuous on-the-job and off-the-job training, coupled with stringent adherence to updated standard operating procedures, are recommended. Keywords: Healthcare workers, HAI prevention, Hospital staff, Hospital settings, Work experience.

A novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay for detection of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a leading cause of bacteremia and blood stream infections. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) that first appeared in 1961 often caused hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and community-acquired infections (CAIs) and was associated with high mortality rate. Accurate and rapid point-of-care testing (POCT) of MRSA is crucial for clinical management and treatment of MRSA infections, as well as the prevention and control of HAIs and CAIs. Here, we reported a novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay for discriminative detection of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and MRSA. The dual HiFi-LAMP assay can detect 30 copies/reaction of nuc and mecA genes with detection limits of 147 and 158 copies per 25 µL reaction, respectively. A retrospective clinical evaluation with 107 clinical S. aureus isolates showed both sensitivity and specificity of 100%. A prospective clinical evaluation with 35 clinical samples revealed a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 92.3%. The dual HiFi-LAMP assay can detect almost all S. aureus samples (141/142; 99.3%) within 20 min, implying that the entire HiFi-LAMP assay (including sample process) can be completed within 40 min, extremely significantly shorter than 3-5 days by the traditional clinical microbial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay can be used as a robust POCT tool to promote precise diagnosis and treatment of MRSA infections in hospitals and to facilitate surveillance of MRSA at hospital and community settings.IMPORTANCEMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was associated with high mortality rate and listed as a "priority pathogen" by the World Health Organization. Accurate and rapid point-of-care testing (POCT) of MRSA is critically required for clinical management and treatment of MRSA infections. Some previous LAMP-based POCT assays for MRSA might be questionable due to their low specificity and the lack of appropriate evaluation directly using clinical samples. Furthermore, they are relatively tedious and time-consuming because they require DNA extraction and lack multiplex detection capacity. Here, we reported a novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay for discriminative detection of MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. The assay has high specificity and sensitivity and can be completed within 40 min. Clinical evaluation with real clinical samples and clinical isolates showed excellent performance with 100% specificity and 92.3%-100% sensitivity. The novel extraction-free assay may be a robust POCT tool to promote precise diagnosis of MRSA infections and facilitate surveillance of MRSA at hospital and community settings.

Assessment of nursing knowledge and practice toward prevention of acquired infections in the emergency department of King Faisal Medical Complex in Taif.

Hospital-acquired infections constitute a significant source of morbidity and mortality for both patients and healthcare professionals. Nursing professionals constitute an integral component of any quality-related program in a hospital, given their oversight and provision of nearly all healthcare services. Nurses' knowledge and attitudes play a significant role in healthcare delivery. Within Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections in hospital settings has prompted a growing emphasis on evaluating nursing knowledge and adherence to practice standards aimed at hospital-acquired infection prevention. This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at the emergency department of King Faisal Medical Complex, Taif, between October and December 2022, involving 168 nurses. The study utilized a pre-validated structured online questionnaire comprising three sections: demographics, knowledge assessment, and practice evaluation. Knowledge and practice levels were categorized as good, moderate, and poor using quartiles. The study encompassed 168 nurses employed in the emergency department of the hospital, revealing their proficiency in standard practices for preventing hospital-acquired infections. Notably, 63.8% of participants demonstrated a commendable "Good" level of knowledge, while 10.6% exhibited a "Moderate" level and 25.5% manifested a "Poor" level in terms of knowledge. Similarly, concerning practice levels, 56.4% showcased a commendable "Good" practice level, 22.3% maintained a "Moderate" practice level, and 21.3% presented a "Poor" practice level. Chi-square analysis unveiled a significant association between age and knowledge levels (p = 0.000). In addition, age (p = 0.000) and years of clinical experience (p = 0.000) were significantly linked to nurses' practice levels The nurses aged 40-50 years (82%) and those with 10-15 years of clinical experience (83.3%) showed good levels of knowledge and practice, respectively. Overall, most of the nurses demonstrated effective knowledge and compliance with infection prevention practices. Sociodemographic factors such as age and clinical experience exert a notable impact on nurses' knowledge and practices regarding hospital-acquired infections.

A comprehensive review on prevention and management of hospital-acquired infections: Current strategies and best practices

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant global public health issue, impacting millions of patients annually. Another name for HAIs is nosocomial infections (NI).These infections arise from illnesses that patients contract while they are in the hospital and can have major negative effects on their health, such as increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, or even death. The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has only added to the complexity and severity of HAIs. Healthcare facilities need to take a thorough, evidence-based strategy to HAI prevention and control in order to solve this issue. This entails carrying out evidence-based procedures, like cleaning the environment, using the proper antimicrobial agents, and practicing hand hygiene, in addition to continuously assessing and evaluating their HAI prevention program. Improving patient outcomes, cutting healthcare costs, and preserving public confidence in the healthcare system all depend on lowering the prevalence of HAIs. Improvements in hospital epidemiological surveillance, infection control practices, and the implementation of HAI prevention guidelines should lead to a decrease in the frequency of morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, HAIs continue to be a major worry for high-risk populations.

Nosocomial infections in the surgical intensive care unit: an observational retrospective study from a large tertiary hospital in Palestine

BackgroundNosocomial infections or hospital-acquired infections are a growing public health threat that increases patient morbidity and mortality. Patients at the highest risk are those in intensive care units. Therefore, our objective was to provide a pattern analysis of nosocomial infections that occurred in an adult surgical intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsThis study was a retrospective observational study conducted in a 6-bed surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at An-Najah National University Hospital (NNUH) to detect the incidence of nosocomial infections from January 2020 until December 2021. The study group included 157 patients who received antibiotics during their stay in the SICU.ResultsThe incidence of nosocomial infections, either suspected or confirmed, in the SICU was 26.9% (95 out of 352 admitted patients). Pneumonia (36.8%) followed by skin and soft tissue infections (35.8%) were the most common causes. The most common causative microorganisms were in the following order: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26.3%), Acinetobacter baumannii (25.3%), extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-Escherichia coli (23.2%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (15.8%). The average hospital stay of patients with nosocomial infections in the SICU was 18.5 days.ConclusionsThe incidence of nosocomial infections is progressively increasing despite the current infection control measures, which accounts for an increased mortality rate among critically ill patients. The findings of this study may be beneficial in raising awareness to implement new strategies for the surveillance and prevention of hospital-acquired infections in Palestinian hospitals and health care centers.

Improving Hand Hygiene Adherence in Small Animal Hospitals: A Social Marketing Approach

Background Good hand hygiene adherence is a key factor in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. The guidelines offered by the World Health Organization for interventions to improve hand hygiene adherence in human health care can only in part be applied to veterinary medicine, and current observations of hygiene adherence in veterinary environments stress a need for decisive action. There is great potential for improvement, especially in situations in which people act habitually. Focus of the Article The focus of this article is to identify the barriers and benefits that influence hand hygiene habits in veterinary care facilities and to derive intervention strategies to promote hand hygiene habits informed by theory and formative research. Research Question This article examines two research questions. What contextual, social, and personal factors promote (benefits) and hinder (barriers) hand hygiene habits in veterinary care facilities? Which intervention strategies can be derived from the identified barriers and benefits to foster hand hygiene habits? Approach The identification of the target behavior and group was based on the literature, talks within the author team, and daily observations. Barriers and benefits were identified by means of qualitative focus groups. The focus group interview schedule was informed by the risks, attitudes, norms, abilities, and self-regulation (RANAS) approach. The intervention strategy was based on the elicited barriers and benefits and guided by the framework of habit formation. Importance to the Social Marketing Field For the first time, barriers and benefits regarding hand hygiene habits were systematically elicited in a small animal clinic in Switzerland. The article focuses on hand hygiene as a habit and offers evidence-based and behavior-oriented intervention strategies. Our findings can thus be used as a basis for developing a theoretically sound intervention to promote hand hygiene habits in veterinary clinics and practices and serve as a springboard for future social marketing research, especially with a focus on habit formation. Methods Primary data were gathered using eight structured in-depth focus group interviews ( N = 32 participants) in a small animal clinic in Switzerland. Two focus groups each were conducted with the following professional groups: veterinary assistants, students, residents and interns, and senior clinicians. Results The overarching theme across the participants’ talk was that building habits is promising but challenging to implement. In examining the key barriers and benefits, five themes were discussed: (1) animal welfare as a reason to act, (2) not about the why but about the how, (3) clash of generations, (4) lack of feedback mechanisms, and (5) the invisible enemy. Strategies were derived based on these findings and the theoretical framework of a habit formation intervention. Recommendations for Practice and Research The themes that emerged in the focus groups are connected to the theoretical framework of habit formation to derive possible intervention strategies. The supplemental material delves into these strategies and provides implementation steps for practitioners facing a similar challenge. Further research is needed to experimentally test the effect of the intervention strategies and to validate the results for other clinics.

A new soft tissue constructed with chitosan for wound dressings-incorporating nanoparticles for medical and nursing therapeutic efficacy

The skin, being the largest organ in the human body, plays a vital role in shielding internal organs from external physical and chemical factors. However, skin damage caused by various factors such as injuries, surgeries, diabetes, or burns can lead to wounds that diminish the skin's protective function. Monitoring essential physiological parameters like temperature, moisture, and pH is crucial to facilitate antibiotic treatment, remote physician monitoring, patient comfort, cost reduction, and prevention of hospital-acquired infections. To this end, innovative wound coverings made of biological materials like gelatin, carboxymethyl chitosan, and titanium nanoparticles have been developed, mainly for hospital and pediatric applications. These wound coverings come equipped with sensors to monitor temperature, pH, and moisture and are suitable for pediatric hospitals where children experience difficulty in wound healing due to their sensitive skin. The temperature monitoring feature allows physicians to accurately assess the wound's temperature, detect potential infections, and take prompt actions. These wound coverings can significantly enhance wound treatment for patients, as real-time monitoring of physiological parameters enables informed decision-making by physicians, leading to better therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, the use of these wound coverings can minimize the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Their adaptability and flexibility make them ideal for various wound types and sizes, ensuring patient comfort and compliance with the treatment plan. In conclusion, the development of innovative and flexible wound coverings using biological materials and equipped with sensors represents a significant breakthrough in wound management. The use of these wound coverings has the potential to revolutionize wound care and improve patient outcomes, particularly in pediatric hospitals where wound healing is often challenging.

Etiology and utility of hospital-onset bacteremia as a safety metric for targeted harm reduction

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are a major driver of morbidity and cost in health systems. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) require intensive surveillance and review. All-cause hospital-onset bacteremia (HOB) may be a simpler reporting metric, correlates with CLABSI, and is viewed positively by HAI experts. Despite the ease in the collection, the proportion of HOBs that are actionable and preventable is unknown. Moreover, quality improvement strategies targeting it may be more challenging. In this study, we describe the bedside provider-perceived sources of HOB in order to provide insight into this new metric as a target for HAI prevention. All cases of HOBs in 2019 from an academic tertiary care hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Information was collected to assess provider-perceived etiology and associated clinical factors (microbiology, severity, mortality, and management). HOB was categorized as preventable or not preventable based on the perceived source from the care team and management decisions. Preventable causes included device-associated bacteremias, pneumonias, surgical complications, and contaminated blood cultures. Of the 392 instances of HOB, 56.0% (n=220) had episodes that were determined not preventable by providers. Excluding blood culture contaminates, the most common cause of preventable HOB was secondary to CLABSIs (9.9%, n=39). Of the HOBs that were not preventable, the most common sources were gastrointestinal and abdominal (n=62), neutropenic translocation (n=37), and endocarditis (n=23). Patients with HOB were generally medically complex with an average Charlson comorbidity index of 4.97. This translated into a higher average length of stay (29.23 vs 7.56, P<.001) and higher inpatient mortality (odds ratio 8.3, confidence interval [6.32-10.77]) when compared to admissions without HOB. The majority of HOBs were not preventable and the HOB metric may be a marker of a sicker patient population making it a less actionable target for quality improvement. Standardization across the patient mix is important if the metric becomes linked to reimbursement. If the HOB metric were to be used in lieu of CLABSI, large tertiary care health systems that house sicker patients may be unfairly financially penalized for caring for more medically complex patients.

Environmental cleaning to prevent hospital-acquired infections on non-intensive care units: a pragmatic, single-centre, cluster randomized controlled, crossover trial comparing soap-based, disinfection and probiotic cleaning

The impact of environmental hygiene on the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a subject of debate. We determined the effect of three different surface-cleaning strategies on the incidence of HAIs. Between June 2017 and August 2018 we conducted a pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled crossover trial at 18 non-ICU wards in the university hospital of Berlin, Germany. Surfaces in patient rooms on the study wards were routinely cleaned using one of three agents: Soap-based (reference), disinfectant and probiotic. Each strategy was used on each ward for four consecutive months (4m-4m-4m). There was a one-month wash-in period at the beginning of the study and after each change in strategy. The order of strategies used was randomized for each ward. Primary outcome was the incidence of HAIs. The trial was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012675. 13,896 admitted patients met the inclusion criteria, including 4708 in the soap-based (reference) arm, 4535 in the disinfectant arm and 4653 in the probiotic arm. In the reference group, the incidence density of HAIs was 2.31 per 1000 exposure days. The incidence density was similar in the disinfectant arm 2.21 cases per 1000 exposure days (IRR 0.95; 95% CI 0.69-1.31; p=0.953) and the probiotic arm 2.21 cases per 1000 exposure days (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.69-1.32; p=0.955). In non-ICU wards, routine surface disinfection proved not superior to soap-based or probiotic cleaning in terms of HAI prevention. Thus, probiotic cleaning could be an interesting alternative, especially in terms of environmental protection. Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (03Z0818C). Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-004308).

Knowledge and attitudes of medical staff on infection control at Bac Ninh Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital 2022

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers toward standard precautions, prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), and ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) at Bac Ninh Obstetrics and Children’s Hospital in 2022. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2022 at Bac Ninh Obstetrics and Children’s Hospital. The survey on standard prevention was participated by 120 health workers, who were from 6 pediatric clinical departments. On the other hand, the prevention of hospital-acquired infections related to pulmonary health care survey had the participation of 47 health workers from 2 intensive care units. Results: The study revealed that the medical staff had good knowledge regarding the examination room content, ranging from 70.8% to 97.5%, however, they exhibited negative attitudes towards some infection control measures. The healthcare workers’ knowledge regarding the prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) was inadequate, and they lacked knowledge about ventilator Associated Pneumonia. Nevertheless, the healthcare workers had a positive attitude toward implementing measures to prevent pneumonia in ventilator-supported patients, with 100%. Conclusion: The study showed that the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers regarding infection control were limited. Therefore, appropriate training programs must be planned and organized to improve their knowledge and attitudes toward infection control.

ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS REGARDING HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTION IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL AT EASTERN NEPAL: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a common problem and represent significant challenges to the effective delivery of healthcare services faced by hospitals in all countries around the world. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are an important part of the healthcare team that plays a unique role in the control of HAIs. Compliance on the part of healthcare workers (HCWs) with standard precautions has been recognized as being an efficient means to prevent and control HAIs. Objective: The present study was conducted with objective of understanding the level of Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among health care workers in the Eastern region of Nepal. Method:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers posted in different wards of hospitals of BPKIHS. A self administered questionnaire containing different set of questions regarding knowledge, attitude and practice on HAI were used for data collection. Simple random sampling method was employed. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data and presented in frequency tables and graph. Results: Regarding knowledge of the participants: Among the total participants in the study, 97% of the participants had good knowledge regarding Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) but only 72% of the participants had received formal training regarding hand hygiene. 97 % participants agreed on the fact that hand hygiene act should be performed before and after direct patient contact. Highest proportions of the participants (97%) were aware of the fact that washing hands with antiseptic decreases the risk of transmission of hospital acquired pathogens. Large proportion of the respondents ( 95%) were aware of the fact that Gloves should be worn if blood or body fluid exposure is anticipated and still considered that gloves provided complete protection against acquiring/ transmitting infections. Hand hygiene (89%) and Personal protective equipment 68%) were common preventive measures of transmission of hospital acquired infection. The common sources of acquiring infections was uniform (59%) whereas commonly hospital acquired infection (HAIs) were reproductive tract infection (86%) and gastro -intestinal tract (GIT) infection (76%) and most susceptible group to hospital acquired infections (HAIs) were OT assistants (74%), Lab technicians(69%) etc. Regarding attitude of the participants, 91% of the participants felt that they would be less likely to transmit infection to the patient if they performed hand-hygiene. Regarding various hindrances in adoption of hand hygiene, few of the respondents (48%) identified that hand hygiene agents were not readily available in our current settings. 31% of the health care workers reported that they often forgot to perform hand hygiene.42% of health care workers found that Gloves are always available when they wanted. 25% of health workers believed that there was very low risk of acquiring infections from my patients.79 % participants thought that all patients are potentially contagious while 88% transmission of hospital acquired infections occurred through unsterilized use of needles and sharp objects. Regarding practice of the participants , majority of respondents (more than 90%) performed hand hygiene before patient contact, after patient contact and caring for wound.95% of the participants practiced hand hygiene after removal of gloves. Majority of the participants (97%) washed their hands after handling every patient. 74% participants practiced of using reusable instruments while 86% respondents practiced of using pre-sterilized instruments. 82 % of the participants exposed to patients blood. Conclusion: All health workers had good knowledge regarding Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) that was reflected in their attitude and practice on hand hygiene for the prevention of HAIs. However there is the need of regular training and performance feedback regarding hand hygiene and the hospital environment should be hand-hygiene friendly with easily accessible to sinks and other facilities. Improving sustainable supplies like personal protective equipment, water supply and hand washing facilities at patient care site is vital to reduce nosocomial infection. Therefore health workers should strictly follow hospital acquired infection prevention guidelines to reduce infections.

Knowledge and practice toward hospital-acquired infections prevention and associated factors among nurses working at university referral hospitals in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia 2021.

Hospital-acquired infection is higher in low- and middle-income countries because of inadequate knowledge of hospital-acquired infection prevention and poor adherence to standard infection prevention practices. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 randomly selected nurses working at university referral hospitals in Southern, Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia from 01 to 30 April 2021. Data was collected by self-administer questionnaires. Multivariable binary logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the outcome variables and explanatory variables. The adjusted odds ratio was calculated and variables with a 95% confidence interval were declared as statistically significant. The study found that 45.5% (95% confidence interval: 40.6%-50.4%) and 64.8% (95% confidence interval: 60.1%-69.5%) of nurses had good knowledge and practices toward hospital-acquired infection prevention, respectively. Being male (adjusted odd ratio: 2.2, 1.41-3.40), having a degree and above in nursing (adjusted odd ratio: 3.6, 1.73-7.38), having more than 5 years of work experience (adjusted odd ratio: 2.0, 1.24-3.26), having training on infection prevention (adjusted odd ratio: 2.6, 1.58-4.37) and adequate materials supplies (adjusted odd ratio: 2.2, 1.08-4.45) had associated with nurses' knowledge about hospital-acquired infection prevention. On the other hand, having a degree and above in nursing (adjusted odd ratio: 1.98, 1.07-3.66), consistent water supply (adjusted odd ratio: 3.4, 1.58-7.30), and being aware of the existence of infection prevention guidelines in their institution (adjusted odd ratio: 1.80, 1.14-2.87) had associated with good practices of nurses toward hospital-acquired infections prevention. Less than half of the nurses had adequate knowledge and approximately two-thirds of nurses had good practice for hospital-acquired infection prevention.

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Video-Assisted Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Practice Regarding the Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infection Among the Students in Chettinad College of Nursing

Background: Nosocomial infections are defined as those infections which occur among patients admitted in hospitals and become manifest after 48 hours of stay, and are neither present nor incubating at the time of hospital admission. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of video-assisted education in helping nursing students at Chettinad College of Nursing gain information and skills related to preventing hospital-acquired infections. The study’s goal was to evaluate the existing level of knowledge and practice regarding the prevention of hospital-acquired infection.Objective: To evaluate the effect of video teaching programs on knowledge and practice regarding the prevention of hospital-acquired infection, and to find the association between the pre-test and post-test scores with the different demographic variables.Methods: Quasi-experimental research design was used for the study. 80 college students from Chettinad college of nursing were selected by randomized sampling technique.The questionnaire and checklist were used to collect data. The data collected were properly screened before they were analyzed.Results: The data were analyzed and tabulated. The study finding shows that (83.3%) n=70 has inadequate knowledge and practice (7.1%) n=6 has moderate knowledge and practice and (4.8%) n=4 has moderate knowledge and practice. After the video teaching, it shows that (3.6%) n=3 has inadequate knowledge and practice (9.5%) n=8 has moderate knowledge and practice, and (82.1%) n=69 has moderate knowledge and practice. The study shows there is no significant association between knowledge and practice demographic variables like gender, age, year of study, medium, or media exposure and posting.

Impact of structured training program about Hospital Infection Control practices on Knowledge and Perception of nursing students at public and private nursing teaching institute of Northern India- An interventional study.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a primary cause of illness and death and increased expenditure due to prolonged hospitalization and poor prognosis. HAI is a global safety concern, according to World Health Organization (WHO). This study assesses the current level of knowledge and perception regarding hospital infection control practices among nursing students and evaluates the impact of structured training interventions on their baseline knowledge and perception level. It was a single group, a pre-post interventional study done on nursing students of one government and one private nursing college in the year 2021. A pretested questionnaire consisting of was used as a study tool. Various statistical tests like one repeated-measure ANOVA, Mauchly's Test of Sphericity, and Greenhouse-Geisser correction were used. The mean knowledge was minimum in the pretest group (Mean = 79.4430, SD = 17.49746) and maximum immediately after the training group (Mean = 96.5443, SD = 25.42322). But after one month, knowledge decreased; however, it was more than pre-training Knowledge (Mean = 84.4937, SD = 22.40313). Annual educational/training modules help retain knowledge in hospital infection control practices and HAI prevention. All healthcare workers need regular training.

Perception of Nursing Staff in ICU Regarding Measures to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections: A Qualitative Approach.

Background Hospital-acquired infections are a common problem in Intensive Care Units and are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost of hospitalization. Despite the development of prevention and control strategies, the incidence of hospital-acquired infections remains consistently high in ICUs and is often associated with the practices of healthcare professionals in patient care. Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of ICU nursing staff regarding measures for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Methods and materials This is an ethnographic qualitative study. It was performed in the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Care Unit of a General Hospital in North Greece. Seventeen nurses recounted their perceptions regarding infection prevention and controlthrough semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis using inductive and deductive approaches was conducted. This manuscript adheres to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. Findings The two basic themes that emerged are(1) infection prevention measures in practice, and (2) factors that affect compliance with infection prevention measures. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate the need for training and compliance of ICU nursing staff regarding measures to prevent hospital-acquired infections. There are several barriers that need to be addressed, such as culture, working conditions, and communication problems through documented interventions in the education, working environment, and professional identity of nursing staff.

Effect of a real-time automatic nosocomial infection surveillance system on hospital-acquired infection prevention and control

BackgroundThe systematic collection of valid data related to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is considered effective for nosocomial infection prevention and control programs. New strategies to reduce HAIs have recently fueled the adoption of real-time automatic nosocomial infection surveillance systems (RT-NISSs). Although RT-NISSs have been implemented in some hospitals for several years, the effect of RT-NISS on HAI prevention and control needs to be further explored.MethodsA retrospective, descriptive analysis of inpatients from January 2017 to December 2019 was performed. We collected hospital-acquired infection (HAI) cases and multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) infection cases by traditional surveillance in period 1 (from January 2017 to December 2017), and these cases were collected in period 2 (from January 2018 to December 2018) and period 3 (from January 2019 to December 2019) using a real-time nosocomial infection surveillance system (RT-NISS). The accuracy of MDRO infection surveillance results over the 3 periods was examined. The trends of antibiotic utilization rates and pathogen culture rates in periods 2 and 3 were also analysed.ResultsA total of 114,647 inpatients, including 2242 HAI cases, were analysed. The incidence of HAIs in period 2 was significantly greater than that in period 1 (2.28% vs. 1.48%, χ2 = 61.963, p < 0.001) and period 3 (2.28% vs. 2.05%, χ2 = 4.767, p = 0.029). The incidence of five HAI sites, including respiratory infection, urinary tract infection (UTI), surgical site infection (SSI), bloodstream infection (BSI) and skin and soft tissue infection, was significantly greater in period 2 compared with period 1 (both p < 0.05) but was not significantly different from that in period 3. The incidence of hospital-acquired MDRO infections in period 3 was lower than that in period 2. The identification of MDRO infection cases using the RT-NISS achieved a high level of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), especially in period 3 (Se = 100%, Sp = 100%, PPV = 100% and NPV = 100%).ConclusionThe adoption of a RT-NISS to adequately and accurately collect HAI cases is useful to prevent and control HAIs. Furthermore, RT-NISSs improve accuracy in MDRO infection case reporting, which can timely and accurately guide and supervise clinicians in implementing MDRO infection prevention and control measures.

Not in their hands only: hospital hygiene, evidence and collective moral responsibility

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are a major threat to patient safety. This paper addresses the following question: given what is known about the causes of and possible interventions on HAIs, to whom or what should the moral responsibility for preventing these infections be attributed? First, we show how generating robust evidence on the effectiveness of preventive hygiene measures is a complex endeavour and review the existing evidence on the causes of HAIs. Second, we demonstrate that the existing literature on the ethical aspects of infection control has focused on responsibility at the individual-level. Thirdly, we argue that these accounts do not accommodate systemic factors relevant for HAI prevention. We show that the notion of collective responsibility is useful for making understandable how systemic factors, such as employment conditions in hospitals, are both causally and ethically relevant in infection control.

Reducing hospital-acquired infections and improving the rational use of antibiotics in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore

Prevention of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) is central to providing safe and high quality healthcare. Transmission of infection between patients by health workers, and the irrational use of antibiotics have been identified as preventable aetiological factors for HAIs. Few studies have addressed this in developing countries.To assess the effectiveness of a multifaceted infection control and antibiotic stewardship programme on HAIs and antibiotic use. A retrospective study was conducted for a study period of 11months (June 2021-April 2022) in Vydehi Hospital, Bangalore. All patients admitted to the intensive care unit and wards were included in the study. Intervention period was 6 months (June 2021-Nov 2021) and post-intervention period was 5 months (Dec 2021- April 2022). Assessment of HAIs was made based on the criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The multifaceted intervention consisted of hand hygiene campaign, isolation of multidrug resistance organism’s patients, water and air quality analysis, training of health care workers in infection control practices, and antibiotic stewardship. Data was collected using an identical method in the intervention and post intervention periods.We observed a major reduction in HAIs, from 89% (198/222 patients) in the intervention period to 10.8% (24/222 patients) in the post intervention period (relative risk (RR) (95% CI) 0.48 (0.31 to 0.56). Antibiotic use in ICUs declined from 58% (780/1347) to 44% (442/995) (RR 0.44 (0.40 to 0.55). Overall, hand hygiene compliance among the health- care workers was maintained at 100% during both the periods. Multifaceted infection control interventions are effective in reducing HAI rates, improving the rational use of antibiotics, increasing hand hygiene compliance, and may reduce mortality in hospitalised patients in developing countries.