Infection Prevention in Practice最新文献

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.

Background

Ultraviolet- C (UV–C) light is effective for reducing environmental bioburden in hospitals, and the use of robots to deliver it may be advantageous.

Aim

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.

Method

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.

Findings

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<0.0001).

Conclusion

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.

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

Introduction

This study investigates the impact of invasive procedures on healthcare-associated infections (HAI) at Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata in Rome, Italy, aiming to understand their role in device-associated HAI and to inform prevention strategies.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted, examining mandatory discharge records and microbiology data from 2018 across all departments. The study focused on adult patients, analysing the correlation between invasive procedures and HAI through univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Of the 12,066 patients reviewed, 1,214 (10.1%) experienced HAI. Univariate analysis indicated an association between invasive procedures and HAI (OR = 1.81, P < 0.001), which was not observed in multivariable analysis. Specific procedures significantly raised HAI risks: temporary tracheostomy (AOR = 22.69, P <0.001), central venous pressure monitoring (AOR = 6.74, P <0.001) prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (AOR = 4.44, P <0.001), and venous catheterisation (AOR = 1.58, P <0.05). Aggregated high-risk procedures had an increased likelihood of HAI in multivariable analysis (OR = 2.51, P < 0.001). High-risk departments were also notably associated with HAI (OR = 6.13, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study suggests that specific invasive procedures, such as temporary tracheostomy, significantly increase HAI risks. The results highlighting the need for targeted infection prevention and control procedures and supports the need for innovative methods such as record-linkage in policymaking to address HAI. These findings inform clinical practice and healthcare policy to improve patient safety and care quality.

Background

Using far-Ultraviolet-C (UVC) radiation with an emission maximum of 222 nm, has the potential to kill bacteria while not being harmful to humans and can be used continuously in public areas. Elevators pose a high risk of infection transmission, as they are small, crowded spaces with poor ventilation. In such a setting continuous decontamination would be very useful. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a far-UVC lamp installed in a frequently used elevator by comparing the bacterial load found in that elevator with the bacterial load in a control elevator.

Methods

Microbial load was measured by different methods; ATP bioluminescence, surface samples were collected by contact slides, contact plates, and swabbing. Air samples were also collected.

Results

No significant differences were found in the microbial content between the control elevator and the UV-lamp elevator, regardless of whether the UV-lamp was always on, or was used with a motion sensor to turn off when someone entered the elevator.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the far-UVC requires a longer time to kill the bacteria, while the people traffic were continuously re-contaminating the elevators.

Background

Healthcare workers in obstetric clinics may be exposed to airborne SARS-CoV-2 when treating patients with COVID-19.

Method

In this study, performed during the midst of the pandemic, air samples were collected in delivery rooms during childbirth and analysed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA content.

Result

Six of 28 samples collected inside delivery rooms were positive for SARS-CoV-2, but none in anterooms or corridors. Five of the six positive samples were from the same occasion.

Discussion

This indicates that some patients could be major sources of exhaled virus, although the individual variation is large, and it is thus difficult to predict the risk of infection.

Patients undergoing cataract surgery are at risk of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis (PCSE), a sight-threatening complication. Cataract surgery is a relatively straightforward and quick procedure often performed under local anaesthetic. It is therefore simple to scale up to reduce the currently long waiting times, but it is important to maintain patient safety when considering high throughput surgery. This literature review aimed to identify appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to support increased throughput of cataract surgery in Scotland. Database searches were conducted using Medline and Embase from 2010 to 2023. Further hand-searching was also performed. The organisms associated with PCSE and IPC factors relevant to PCSE were analyzed. A range of microorganisms was associated with PCSE, where outbreak reports were most associated with Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, whereas retrospective chart reviews were most associated with Gram-positive bacteria. IPC risk factors identified were related to the built environment and issues with sterilization. Specifically, the sources of outbreaks included failures in the ventilation system, as well as contaminated ophthalmic solutions, surgical instruments, and medications. The factors identified in this review should be considered when implementing high throughput cataract surgery to ensure that patient safety is maintained.

Single room isolation for respiratory viral infections (RVI), like influenza, puts hospitals under pressure. During the influenza season 2019/20, we implemented Droplet precautions on-site (DroPS) for RVI in two acute care hospitals and prospectively assessed the rate of hospital-acquired RVI (HARVI). 318 patients were admitted with RVI, 85 had Influenza or RSV, 75 stayed in multi-bed rooms with DroPS. From 764 patients at risk, hospitalised ≥ three days in a multi-bed room, 11 (1.4%) developed a clinical HARVI, and three tested positive (3/764, 0.4%; 2x RSV, 1x influenza). DroPS may represent an alternative strategy to deal with respiratory viral infections.

Background

Diagnostic stewardship is ‘coordinated guidance and interventions to improve appropriate use of microbiological diagnostics to guide therapeutic decisions’ and a fundamental part of antimicrobial stewardship and the nursing role. The role of the nurse in diagnostic stewardship is relatively unknown and an underused resource. Lack of involvement and training in diagnostic stewardship can lead to inaction or incorrect actions, either of which may be detrimental to patient management, outcomes and care.

Aim

To determine the role of the hospital adult nurse in diagnostic stewardship to inform local engagement strategies.

Methods

The methodology was informed by Whiffin's (2020) systematic search approach. Electronic databases were searched from 2016 to 2022. The studies included were primary research papers involving adult nurses working in a hospital setting, with findings relevant to a diagnostic stewardship role. Thematic analysis was chosen to understand and compare the results, findings and recommendations of the studies.

Findings

Seven studies were included in the review. The identified themes were: (i) nursing role – to recognize infection, aid diagnosis and review results; (ii) nurse challenges – lack of knowledge and confidence to implement diagnostic stewardship; and (iii) Nurse education, empowerment and use of clinical tools.

Conclusion

Research studies do not consistently recognize the full scope of the diagnostic stewardship nursing role, signifying that nurses remain an underused resource in promoting diagnostic stewardship. Research-based clarification of the role of the nurse in diagnostic stewardship, outlined in this review, is therefore vital. Further UK-based, nurse-led research is needed to capture the impact of nurse-driven diagnostic stewardship interventions.