Infection, disease & health最新文献

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is an essential element of infection prevention and control programs. Direct observation of adherence to the 5 moments for HH is considered the gold standard in compliance monitoring. However, as direct observation introduces potential bias, other strategies have been proposed to supplement HH compliance data in healthcare facilities. This study evaluated the accuracy of an automatic counting system (MEZRIT™) to detect when a HH product (soap or alcohol-based hand rub) was dispensed, and thus measure product usage as opposed to compliance with the 5 moments for HH.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a nursing simulation lab where seven participants undertook basic nursing tasks which included performing HH. Sensors were attached to soap and alcohol-based hand rub dispensers to record the time at which a product was dispensed. HH events were video recorded (time-stamped) and validated against timestamps from the automatic counting system.

Results: 260 HH events were detected by the automatic counting system and confirmed by video recordings. 5182 non-HH events were calculated from analysis of the video recordings. The automatic counting system had 90 % sensitivity (95%CI 85.8-93.1 %), and 100 % specificity (95%CI 99.9-100 %). This model generated a positive predictive value of 100 % (95%Cl 98.4-100 %), and a negative predictive value of 99.5 % (95%CI 99.3-99.7 %).

Conclusion: The MEZRIT™ system accurately identified 90 % of HH events and excluded 100 % of non-HH events. The real-time monitoring of HH product usage may be beneficial in responding quickly to changes in product usage.

Background: Despite the uncertainty raised by several studies regarding the practicality of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) in hospital settings, the urgency prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic led many hospitals to invest in these rapid diagnostics. As the COVID-19 pandemic showcased the potential of POCT in emergency situations, an urgent call arises to leverage the successes and lessons learned for the long-term benefit of healthcare systems, particularly in preparation for the next pandemic of viral respiratory nature.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine emergency care and hospital laboratory stakeholders with expertise and responsibility over POCT operations within hospital systems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland, USA. The grounded theory approach was utilized, and the transcripts were thematically analyzed through an iterative process.

Results: Three distinct themes were identified as barriers to POCT implementation: Regulatory barriers encompassed inconsistencies between the federal and state regulations and a regulatory structure that lags technological advancements. Staffing and operational barriers comprised a shortage of POCT workforce including nurses and Point of Care coordinators. Economic barriers were linked to the overall cost of integrating new POCT devices into the existing testing menu at emergency departments.

Conclusion: We conclude with strategies, including policy considerations, to enable and sustain decentralized POCT programs within hospitals. Some of these strategies include expanding the workforce trained in the regulatory procedures required to support POCT; harmonizing state and federal regulations for diagnostic testing, especially for FDA-waived POCT; and sustained funding for POCT development and use for public health preparedness.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role of Infection Prevention and Control Professionals (IPCPs) in safeguarding public health. Amid rapidly evolving guidelines, critical personal protective equipment shortages, and surging workloads, IPCPs encountered unprecedented moral and ethical dilemmas. However, their experiences, ethical challenges, and the resulting moral distress remain understudied.

Methods: A scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley's methodology was conducted to examine current research on ethical challenges and moral distress among IPCPs. Searches in CINAHL, MEDLINE via OVID, Emcare, Scopus, and Korea Citation Index yielded two extracted articles.

Results: Common themes included high workload, increased recognition, pressure to deliver accurate and timely information, need for peer support, and evidence-based practice. Differences in nationality, role discretion, and administrative systems led to varied experiences. District Medical Officers in Norway experienced more decision-making responsibilities and resulting ethical dilemmas in the context of broader communities and municipalities. The experiences of IPCPs were confined to their respective healthcare facilities.

Conclusion: There is a dearth of available research reporting the moral distress experienced by IPCPs whilst there is a plethora for those seen as "frontline" workers. Given the integral decision-making and implementation roles of these health professionals, and the burdens of ethical dilemmas they experienced in pandemic preparedness and response, further research is imperative to inform strategies to build moral resilience in the future.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic placed considerable strain on the infection control professional workforce, who were at the forefront of pandemic response in their organisations and beyond. In order to support infection control professionals and inform future initiatives, it is important to further understand the infection control workforce. The objective of this study was to determine stress and resilience levels, personality traits and workforce intentions of infection control professionals in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: We undertook an anonymous, cross-sectional online survey of infection control professionals in Australia and New Zealand. Validated tools, the brief resilience tool, workforce stressor tool and the Big Five personality test, were used to evaluate levels of stress, resilience and personality traits.

Results: Three hundred and fifty-six infection control professionals started the survey, with representation from all Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand. The mean stress score was 4.28 (SD 3.39) and 3.34 (SD 0.65) for resilience. Younger participants and those with less experience in infection control had higher levels of stress and lower levels of resilience. Individual personality traits vary by age, level of education and credentialing status. Approximately one-fifth of participants indicated that they planned to leave the IC workforce in the next three years.

Conclusions: Our study was the largest published study involving infection control professionals in Australia and New Zealand. Findings highlight the need for mentoring, peer support and wellbeing initiatives to support the profession. Understanding personality traits may also be beneficial for further enhancing communication and interpersonal relationships.

Introduction: Mobile phones, contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, have the potential to act as "trojan horses". The microbial signatures present on their surfaces most probably vary across different geographical regions. As a result, mobile phones belonging to international conference attendees may serve as a model for global microbial dissemination, posing potential risks to public health and biosecurity.

Aim: This study aimed to profile the microbes present on mobile phones belonging to delegates attending an international scientific conference through use of metagenomic shotgun DNA sequencing.

Methods: Twenty mobile phones, representing ten different geographical zones from around the world, were swabbed and pooled together into ten geographical-specific samples for high definition next-generation DNA sequencing. WONCA council members were invited to participate and provided verbal consent. Following DNA extraction, next generation sequencing, to a depth of approximately 10Gbp per sample, was undertaken on a v1.5 Illumina NovaSeq6000 system. Bioinformatic analysis was performed via the CosmosID platform.

Results: A total of 2204 microbial hits were accumulated across 20 mobile phones inclusive of 882 bacteria, 1229 viruses, 88 fungi and 5 protozoa. Of particular concern was the identification of 65 distinct antibiotic resistance genes and 86 virulence genes. Plant, animal and human pathogens, including ESKAPE and HACEK bacteria were found on mobile phones.

Discussion/conclusion: Mobile phones of international attendees are contaminated with many & varied microorganisms. Further research is required to characterize the risks these devices pose for biosecurity and public health. Development of new policies which appropriately address and prevent such risks maybe warranted.