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PubMed1999

National guidelines for infection control in The Netherlands.

National guidelines for the prevention of hospital infections in The Netherlands were established by the Working Group on Infection Prevention (WIP) in 1981. Since 1992 these guidelines have functioned as national standards for infection control applicable in all hospitals. The organization of the WIP, the process of developing guidelines and the current guidelines are described. The working group has also produced guidelines for nursing homes, institutions for the mentally handicapped and dentists.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2000

Expanding the role of the infection control professional in the cost-effective use of antibiotics.

There is a growing demand that health care expenses be contained and that excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics be eliminated. At the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, strategies aimed at controlling drug usage and subsequently reducing costs have been implemented and found to be effective. Mechanisms designed to achieve such goals without diminishing quality of care involve expanding the role of the infection control professional (ICP) while implementing antibiotic control stratagems such as antimicrobial utilization teams, antibiotic order sheets, audits of use, automatic stop orders, computer-assisted management, drug use reviews, educational efforts, formulary practice, restricted drug policies, and target drug monitoring. The infection control professional, as well as other members of the antimicrobial utilization team, contributes to the promotion of the appropriate use of antibiotics in part by identifying individual cases in which antibiotics might be used inappropriately, such as for the treatment of colonization rather than infection or when appropriate microbiologic testing has not been carried out.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed1992

Surveillance of nosocomial infection in private psychiatric hospitals: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: The vast majority of work published about infection control programs, procedures, and practices addresses general acute care facilities. Consequently, infection-control coordinators at psychiatric hospitals have few established norms or models to use in adapting available standards to the unique needs of psychiatric hospitals and their patients. This descriptive study explored practices for the surveillance of nosocomial infections in private psychiatric hospitals. METHODS: A survey was mailed to the infection control coordinator of the 284 hospitals belonging to the National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals. Questionnaire data were collected anonymously. Surveys were returned by 103 (36%) of the hospitals. RESULTS: The most frequent criteria used to define the presence of nosocomial infections were the Center for Disease Control guidelines and clinical judgment, used by 38% and 39% of the respondents, respectively. Most (64%) of the respondents indicated that they did calculate a nosocomial infection rate. The most frequent method used to calculate infection rates was based on patient discharges. Sixty-five hospitals (63%) reported their most recent yearly infection rate, which ranged from 0.00 to 0.35, with a median rate of 0.05 (mean, 0.06; SD, 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the findings reflected much variability in respondents' practices in defining nosocomial infections and calculating infection rates. We therefore suggest that both the method used to calculate the rate and facilities' definitions of nosocomial infection be considered when comparing infection rates across facilities.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1996

Use of the Internet for infection control and epidemiology.

Infection control professionals are taking advantage of the Internet for the rapid transmission and distribution of information that includes sounds, still and motion images, and text to their peers, colleagues, patients, and the public. This article provides some background information on the Internet and examples of some electronic resources and offers suggestions of additional applications of the Internet for infection control and epidemiology.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1997

Detecting pediatric nosocomial infections: how do infection control and quality assurance personnel compare?

OBJECTIVE: To compare how well infection control (IC) and quality assurance (QA) personnel in a specialty setting identify the presence, type (nosocomial or community-acquired), and (if nosocomial) site of infection. METHODS: In 1994, we mailed a survey that included 21 pediatric case histories to IC and QA personnel in pediatric settings in the United States (children's hospitals and medical school-affiliated hospitals with pediatric wards of > 30 beds). From the case histories presented, the respondents were asked to determine whether an infection was present and, if so, whether it was nosocomial or community-acquired. If the infection was nosocomial, the respondent was asked to determine the site of the infection (e.g., urinary tract, bloodstream). RESULTS: From the 289 hospitals to which surveys were mailed, 131 respondents (45.3%) completed 212 surveys. Of the 212 returned surveys, 120 (56.6%) were completed by IC personnel and 92 (43.4%) were completed by QA personnel. Among the 183 respondents from acute care pediatric settings, 92.3% of IC personnel (96/104) and 54.4% of QA personnel (43/79) correctly identified at least 75% of the nosocomial infections (n = 14; p < 0.0001). IC and QA personnel were similar in ability to identify community-acquired infection (88/104 vs 70/79, respectively; p = 0.436). IC personnel were significantly more likely than QA personnel to accurately identify the following sites of infection: respiratory tract infection without secondary bloodstream infection, necrotizing enterocolitis, urinary tract infection with and without secondary bloodstream infection, primary bloodstream infection, surgical site infection, gastroenteritis, esophagitis, and clinical sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, IC personnel were more accurate than QA personnel in determining whether a nosocomial infection was present and in correctly determining most sites of infection. Both IC and QA personnel had difficulty identifying venous infection and respiratory tract infection with secondary bloodstream infection. Both IC and QA personnel could thus benefit from more concise definitions or further training in detection of these sites of nosocomial infections. In addition, QA personnel did not perform overall as well as IC personnel in identifying nosocomial infections and their sites; this finding suggests the need for QA personnel to be provided specific training on detection of nosocomial infections and validation of their ability to do so. Nosocomial infection surveillance should be the responsibility of those trained and proved capable of detecting these infections.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence of use of infection control rituals and outdated practices: Education Committee survey results.

BACKGROUND: To better serve APIC membership, the National APIC Education Committee periodically conducts educational needs assessments. METHODS: In the July/August 1995 issue of APIC News, the committee published a survey on the prevalence of infection control "sacred cows," practices considered to be outdated and ritualistic. A response was requested only from ICPs working in inpatient facilities. We asked ICPs which of the listed practices were part of their facility's infection control program, and whether they were interested in changing those that were. We also asked about the certification status of the program's manager (CIC vs non-CIC). RESULTS: A total of 506 survey forms were completed and returned, with 74% from acute care only, 7% from long-term care only, 10% from acute and long-term care, and 8% from other types of facilities. Mean number of beds was 226. Infection control programs had existed for a mean of 15 years. Most respondents' facilities still engaged in infection control rituals. Fifty-eight percent of respondents were still doing total surveillance, 43% were still using reverse or protective isolation, and 11% were still subjecting employees with positive reactions to purified protein derivative of tuberculin testing to annual chest radiographs, to name a few. Certified respondents were significantly less likely to include outdated practices than were non-CICs for 11 of 15 practices (73%). CICs were no more likely than non-CICs, however, to be interested in changing any current rituals. CONCLUSION: The Education Committee will use this information to plan future educational offerings.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1997

A practical approach to designing and performing a focused study.

Designing and performing focused studies is part of the regular work of infection surveillance, prevention, and control, and the methodology of a prevalence survey used in this practice forum will be familiar to many infection control professionals. A practical example of a focused study to evaluate cost savings from extending intravenous catheter site and administration set change frequency from 72 hours to 96 hours illustrates the steps required. Suggested references for additional information are included at the end of the article.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗
PubMed1998

Tuberculosis control in the New York State Department of Correctional Services: a case management approach.

In the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS), the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) increased from 43 per 100,000 persons in 1985 to 225 per 100,000 in 1991. To combat this increase in cases, the NYSDOCS enhanced its collaborative efforts with the New York State Department of Health and the Division of Parole, developing a comprehensive TB control program. This control program focuses on prevention and containment of disease. Policies and directives were developed on the basis of epidemiologic principles, which include surveillance and detection. To assist the NYSDOCS in the implementation of the TB control program statewide, a team of infection control nurses was established in July 1992. A case management approach was used, and TB registry was developed. Each case of active and suspected TB was monitored closely to ensure appropriate containment, identification, and treatment measures. Transfers within the state system also were monitored to promote continuity. Discharge planning coordination with the DOCS, Division of Parole, and Department of Health is facilitated by the infection control nurses. Directly observed preventive therapy and directly observed therapy is used for inmates. Staff and inmates are provided education that addresses mandatory annual skin testing, diagnosis, containment procedures, disease process, and treatment modes. Implementation of this comprehensive TB control program in NYSDOCS has strongly contributed to reducing the incidence of TB. In 1997, the incidence rate was 61 TB cases per 100,000 persons--a 73% decrease since 1991. The conversion rate for staff and inmates has steadily declined since 1993. No new outbreaks have occurred in NYSDOCS since 1993.

Case Management↗
PubMed1998

Regionalization of infection prevention and control services in a publicly funded health care system.

In 1994 health services in the Edmonton region were consolidated into an integrated network called Capital Health. Infection control professionals in the region met to develop a vision for the future of infection control; the tasks were to prepare a proposal for a regional program, develop indicators for outcome measurements, and standardize guidelines and products. Although regionalization of infection control is a complex process, we have had success with a proactive approach led by infection control professionals.

Alberta↗
PubMed1998

Measuring and improving the performance of health care providers: accreditation in the 21st century.

Outcomes data will become part of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' accreditation process. Accredited organizations will select a measurement system that they will use to submit data to the Commission. Data trends will be reviewed to determine response by the accreditor. The Joint Commission will work with organizations to assist with improvement opportunities. Accreditation decisions will continue to be based on standards. The Joint Commission's system, the IMSystem, is one of several systems available for use in accreditation activities.

Accreditation↗
PubMed1999

Job analysis 1996: Infection control professional. Certification Board in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, 1996 Job Analysis Committee.

The Certification Board in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, directed its Test and Administrative Subcommittees to compose a Job Analysis Committee in 1995. This 16-member Job Analysis Committee, in collaboration with Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc, conducted a job analysis survey of infection control professionals in the United States and Canada during 1996. The reassessment of the previous Certification Board in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, task analysis, formation of a job-analysis survey tool, the actual job-analysis process, and its results are described in this article. The previous and newly revised test specification outlines are compared. The Revised Certification Examination for Infection Control offered beginning in 1997 will reflect the efforts of this endeavor.

Canada↗