American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2020
Assessment of anesthesia machine redesign on cleaning of the anesthesia machine using surface disinfection wipes.
The use of surface disinfection wipes after induction of anesthesia improves anesthesia machine cleaning. We assessed whether anesthesia machine surface redesign improves disinfection wipe cleaning by anesthesia residents. ⋯ The number of sites cleaned overall did not differ between the conventional and redesigned Perseus A500 machines. However, the redesigned work surface and smooth manual bag arm features improved resident cleaning with surface disinfection wipes.
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2020
Examining the inclusion of patients and their family members in infection prevention and control policies and guidelines across Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Korea.
Although familial involvement during inpatient care is not uncommon in western countries, the types of caring activities that family members in Asian countries provide are significantly different. These activities may place the family member at risk from a health care-associated infection. This study aimed to examine whether the role of patients' families has been accounted for in the infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines and policy, using examples from Bangladesh (low-income country), Indonesia (middle-income country), and South Korea (high-income country). ⋯ Although health care workers are the primary actors when it comes to providing care in acute health care settings, it is important to expand the IPC guides by considering the role of other caregivers. Policies and guidelines should reflect the cultural influence over healthcare. This is especially true when cultural values strongly influence over healthcare arrangements and the healthcare accommodates these cultural influences in the practice. Further work needs to be undertaken on the level of training/education provided to family members in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Korea.
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Cases of 2019-nCoV are now being reported in different regions around the globe, concerning for a possible SARS like epidemic that infected for than 8000 people in 2002-03. Though, major health authorities are still working on understanding the virus and its transmission, here we present a brief report regarding the 2019-nCoV outbreak and what is known so far.
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Am J Infect Control · May 2020
Infection preventionists role in antimicrobial stewardship: Survey of APIC members.
The primary job responsibility of infection preventionists (IPs) is to lead organizational initiatives that prevent and control health care-associated infections. Increasingly, IPs are participating in activities that support antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). We conducted a survey of Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology members practicing in acute care facilities to determine the degree of their involvement in ASP activities.
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2020
A qualitative study of factors affecting personal protective equipment use among health care personnel.
Health care personnel (HCP) use of personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces infectious disease transmission. However, PPE compliance remains low. The objective of this study was to better understand how HCP perceptions factor into PPE decision making as well as how organizational processes and the environment impact behavior. ⋯ Preventing the spread of infectious organisms should not depend solely on PPE use, but should also be recognized as an organizational responsibility.