Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Infection Control Practitioners”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Surveillance of hospital water and primary prevention of nosocomial legionellosis: what is the evidence?

Hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease may be sporadic or may occur as part of an outbreak. As Legionella spp. are ubiquitous in many water systems, it is not surprising that hospital water may be colonized with Legionella pneumophila and other species. However, there is some controversy about the relationship between the presence of legionella in hospital water systems and nosocomial legionellosis. Primary prevention, i.e. measures to prevent legionella in a hospital or healthcare facility with no previous documented cases of nosocomial legionellosis, includes heightened awareness of hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease with appropriate laboratory diagnostic facilities, and ensuring that the water system is well designed and maintained in accordance with national standards, e.g. the circulating hot water is maintained above 55 degrees C. Secondary prevention, i.e. preventing further cases occurring when a case has been confirmed, should include an investigation to exclude the hospital water system as a source. However, the necessity to sample hospital water routinely to detect legionella outside of outbreaks, i.e. as a component of primary prevention, is unclear. Some studies demonstrate a clear link but others do not. Differences between the patient populations studied, the methods of laboratory diagnosis of clinical cases, the analysis of hospital water and differences in the design of hospital water systems may partly explain this. Whilst further research, probably in the form of multi-centred prospective trials, is needed to confirm the relationship between environmental legionella and hospital-acquired legionellosis, including establishing the relative importance of L. pneumophila group 1 vs. non-group 1 and other Legionella spp., each hospital should consider the spectrum of patients at particular risk locally. Centres with transplant units or other patients with significant immunosuppression should, in the interim, consider routine sampling for legionella in hospital water in addition to other control measures. Therefore, infection control teams must work closely with hospital engineering and technical services departments and hospital management, as well as ensuring that physicians and others have a heightened awareness of hospital-acquired legionellosis.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2006

Diploma in Hospital Infection Control--important changes to the accreditation of prior experiental learning and update.

The Diploma in Hospital Infection Control (DipHIC) was established by the Hospital Infection Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Public Health Laboratory Service (now the Health Protection Agency) in 1997. We outline important changes to the assessment of eligibility for the DipHIC by accreditation of prior experiental learning, provide a web link to examples of reflections, and list all those who have been awarded the DipHIC by the various routes.

Accreditation↗
PubMed2005

Audit in infection control.

Audit is a key function of infection control teams. Infection control audit programmes should include audits of infection control policies in wards and departments, and microbiological safety audits of the healthcare environment. This paper reviews the literature on healthcare audit with particular emphasis on published audits in infection control. Evidence of the efficacy of audit and feedback in improving infection control outcomes is presented, together with the nature of interventions necessary to bring about change.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Survey of acute hospital infection control resources and services in the Republic of Ireland.

Following the development of national guidelines on the control of antimicrobial resistance in 2001, a survey was carried out in 2003 of all 68 acute hospitals in the Republic of Ireland on resources available and current practice to control and prevent nosocomial infection. Completed questionnaires were received from 66 hospitals (97%). The median number of acute inpatient beds per hospital was 156; this was 522 in regional/tertiary referral centres. Only 31 (47%) hospitals had on-site consultant microbiologist sessions, and there was an infection control nurse in 56 (85%) hospitals. Eighteen (29%) hospitals had an occupational health physician, and 48 (73%) hospitals had an infection control committee. There was a median of one isolation room for every 16 acute beds, and a median of five rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities per hospital in those hospitals that provided data. All hospitals had documented infection control policies, and these were available in electronic format in 25 (38%) hospitals. Fifty-five (83%) hospitals undertook surveillance of nosocomial infection, and alcohol-based hand hygiene facilities were available, either at a handwashing sink or at the entrance to a ward, in 57 (86%) hospitals. In the Republic of Ireland, there remains a significant shortage of microbiologists/infection control doctors, occupational health physicians and infection control nurses. Isolation facilities are also inadequate. Although there is much agreement internationally on the importance of nosocomial infection and the priorities for surveillance, there are no agreed basic minimum standards for the resources and facilities necessary to control and prevent nosocomial infection.

Cross Infection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of intravascular surveillance and education program on rates of nosocomial bloodstream infections.

BACKGROUND: Because of high proportions of central line-related bloodstream infections (BSIs), an intravascular surveillance and education program (IVSP) was instituted in the study institution in 1987. METHODS: A 6 1/2-year historical prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the IVSP on incidence of nosocomial BSIs. With use of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, concurrent data on nosocomial BSIs were collected by two infection control professionals before, during, and for 3 years after the IVSP. RESULTS: Hospital-wide BSIs during the 3-year IVSP and for 3 years after were 0.9% and 0.9% (p = 0.58) or 1.4 and 1.2/1000 patient-days (p = 0.24). Central line-related BSIs represented 29%, 24%, and 29% of the total BSIs 6 months before, 3 years during, and 6 months after the intervention, respectively (p = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: The IVSP resulted neither in a reduction in the total intravascular catheter-related BSIs nor in a change in the proportion of potentially preventable central line-related BSIs. To be successful, an intervention must include the authority to mandate practice changes; education and feedback without such authority were inadequate.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMed2001

Handwashing practices in Polish hospitals: results of a survey conducted by Polish Society of Hospital Infection.

Handwashing is the most important and least expensive measure for preventing transmission of hospital-acquired infections. Nevertheless, healthcare workers do not seem to understand the risks associated with non-compliance. Thus, compliance is usually poor and rarely exceeds 40%. The Polish Society of Hospital Infection has made a short study of handwashing practices in Polish hospitals as observed by members of infection control teams. The study was based on questionnaires given to infection control workers attending the annual congress of the society. The workers were asked to complete the forms during the congress according to their perceived estimations. Altogether 78 complete questionnaires were analysed. The responding staff members were from hospitals of all sizes, reference levels and regions. Nearly all (95.6%) hospitals had a written protocol for handwashing procedures but according to the estimates of their infection control teams, the compliance rates varied from 20 to 80% although in most institutions was between 40% and 60%. In the vast majority of the hospitals, alcoholic rub preparations were used (70.3%), but in some both handwashing with chlorhexidine in detergents and alcohol-based antiseptics were used in different situations. According to the respondents, the mean time of hand disinfection varied from 1 to 3 min. The handwashing procedures were mostly performed in examination, operating and patients' rooms. Thus, it seems that as in other countries, Polish healthcare workers fail to understand the importance of handwashing.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed2003

The role of the infection control link nurse.

Link nurses act as a link between their own clinical area and the infection control team. Their role is to increase awareness of infection control issues in their ward and motivate staff to improve practice. It is essential that they receive training from the infection control team to ensure their competence. They have been shown to be of value to Trusts by improving clinical ward audit scores, helping infection control nurses implement policies and collecting data on hospital-acquired infections. In some hospitals, however, there are operational difficulties for link nurse schemes including high turnover of staff and insufficient time for training and monitoring their effectiveness.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2003

Hospital infection control in Australia.

Australia is a large country divided into six states and two territories, each of which has infection control programmes. This paper looks at the organization of infection control in Australia, as well as describing the national bodies involved and recent state initiatives in infection control.

Australia↗
PubMed1996

The development of an infection control link-nurse programme in a district general hospital.

Management of hospital-acquired infection is costly, and a vital part of risk management. It is also closely linked with the quality of patient care. Information regarding hospital-acquired infection is increasingly being sought by both purchasers and providers. This paper describes the setting up and development of an infection control link-nurse system over a four-year period in a district general hospital. It gives practical details of methodology and problems encountered. Emphasis is given to the incorporation of infection control principles into ward and departmental standard setting. Having set up the system, subsequent monitoring of the process by a clinical audit programme is described. The importance of the responsibility of staff, at ward and departmental level, in high-level infection control practice is discussed.

Hospitals, District↗
PubMed1996

The second national survey of infection in hospitals: methods of data collection and overall impressions.

The Hospital Infection Society, in association with the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Infection Control Nurses Association, launched the Second National Prevalence Survey of Infection in Hospitals in 1993. On completion of the survey, 157 hospitals throughout the British Isles had taken part with approximately 37 000 patients surveyed. The survey in the Royal Hospitals Trust, Belfast, included all inpatients who were present in the wards on the survey day. Infection control nurses (ICNs) from a selected number of the other participating hospitals were sent questionnaires and asked about their methods of data collection, and their overall impression of the Second National Survey. All respondents received help in performing the survey, but only 10% provided prior training to ward staff before the survey visit. Sixty-five percent of respondents supplied information to the wards prior to the survey visit. In comparison with the questionnaire respondents, it was found that using a 'link' nurse to assist in data collection was much more efficient in relation to the time involved. Many ICNs expressed concern over the amount of time spent on this survey, although in general the value of such a survey was appreciated. Twenty-six percent of respondents indicated that they would not be willing to undertake a future survey.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1997

Infection control and the Internet.

The Internet can be enormously valuable for infection control workers. It provides access to policy documents and discussion groups debating everyday problems, and is a comprehensive source of information on infection-related topics. Here we discuss some of the more useful Internet connections.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1997

Diploma in Hospital Infection Control (Dip HIC)

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has established a Diploma in Hospital Infection Control (Dip-HIC). The course for this new Diploma is run under the auspices of the Hospital Infection Society (HIS) and the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) and will commence in October 1997. The aim of this course is to provide infection control staff with systematic training in the sciences relevant to hospital infection control which will allow them to provide, and to take responsibility for, a broad-based infection control service. Topics will include the epidemiology of infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, health care economics, statistics, surveillance methods and patient management. The course will be multi-disciplinary and open to UK and overseas students, both medical and non-medical.

Certification↗
PubMed1999

Waterbirths: regional audit of infection control practices.

Waterbirths are increasingly being offered as an option, although concerns about associated infection risks have been expressed. We undertook an audit of current practice in our region to help formulate an infection control policy. Questionnaires were sent to the Infection Control Nurses at 16 centres, with a request for completion in conjunction with the Infection Control Doctor. Fourteen (88%) centres responded, 11 of which carried out waterbirthing. Eight had permanent on-site pools, of which five were permanently plumbed in and provided with separate water inlets and outlets. All eight centres had infection control policies for waterbirthing. Six policies included care of the pool using detergent and disinfectant (chlorine-releasing compounds) and two using detergent alone. In none of the centres were the mothers tested for blood-borne viruses. Six centres collected data on infection in mother or child, and two carried out regular microbiological testing of pools. Infection control policies for waterbirths should include instructions for pool maintenance and decontamination, for prevention of legionella, for universal precautions and for use of personal protective equipment. Post-natal surveillance of mothers and babies is required in order to ascertain infection rates.

Baths↗
PubMed1999

Interaction between the microbiology laboratory and clinician: what the microbiologist can provide.

The work of the clinical microbiologist comprises three major areas: diagnostic work in the laboratory, advice to clinicians about treatment of infected patients, and infection control. By clinical alertness, either from work in the laboratory or from clinical contacts, the microbiologist may contribute to the recognition of hospital outbreaks. The microbiologist plays a key role in implementing a restrictive antibiotic policy in hospital. Experience shows that a close personal contact with clinicians in the daily treatment of patients is the most efficient way to ensure a rational use of antibiotics and keep the consumption low. Other important measures include the elaboration of antibiotic guidelines and performance of audits. On basis of periodic summaries of laboratory data and data on antibiotic consumption, the microbiologist can keep the clinicians informed about antibiotic resistance and compliance with the antibiotic guidelines. In addition to informal contacts, the microbiologist also interacts with clinicians through participation in infection control and drug and therapeutic committees.

Cross Infection↗