Journal of Infection Prevention

BACKGROUND: One of today's most significant organizational priorities, including healthcare organizations, is to improve the quality of work-life (QoWL), which leads to offering high-quality services to patients. AIM: The study aimed to explore the effect of the perceived risk of infection and its impact on the quality of work-life (QoWL) on HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 484 healthcare workers...

BACKGROUND: Infection prevention competencies are critical for successful job performance, career progression and robust performance of infection prevention and control programs. AIM/OBJECTIVE: Identify competency assessment tools available to infection preventionists and describe their characteristics, validation processes and reliability. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted on five databases and grey literature from 1999 to 2022. A descriptive synthesis approach was undertaken to analyse the data...

BACKGROUND: Seasonal influenza is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite annual recommendations, influenza vaccination uptake rates are disproportionately lower among nurses compared to other health care professionals, especially when compared to physicians. Nurses have an additional risk of exposure to influenza infection due to the nature of their work. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of interventions in increasing seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses...

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers carry the occupational risk of being exposed to pathogens. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) requires proficiency whenever used. Yet, evidence shows significant errors and variation in competency when applying PPE. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we developed a three-phase intervention to promote PPE proficiency. METHODS: Education and assessment of participants' PPE knowledge and skills occurred at a large academic university in Western Canada...

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance is a public health concern in Nigeria and the world, and healthcare workers contributed to the upsurge of antibiotic resistance in hospital settings. This study focused on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of antibiotic use and the frequency of prescriptions of antibiotics from the list of WHO Model Essentials Antibiotics (AWaRe ) (in the last 6 months) among healthcare workers and established the determining factors in six hospitals in Niger state, Nigeria...

A pilot quality improvement project was conducted to examine the effect of playing an applause sound effect at a busy hospital concourse for three consecutive days whenever hand hygiene behavior was observed. The immediate effect was documented. The project demonstrated observable interest among people passing by, and hand hygiene events triggered by the sound effect represented 10.1% of all hand hygiene events documented. This supports the possible utility of this intervention in generating public awareness and increasing hand hygiene behavior and demonstrates the feasibility of a longer trial utilizing audio devices...

BACKGROUND: With attempts at lifting most COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, other common respiratory viruses have caused more health concern than in earlier seasons in pediatric populations. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in a rebound in other respiratory viral pathogens, especially in light of general vaccination fatigue, COVID-19 boosters, and operational challenges in the healthcare system. METHODS: A research-based commentary supported with recent literature review...

AIM/OBJECTIONS: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a central line maintenance bundle in preventing catheter-related (implanted venous access devices, port) Candida bloodstream infections. METHODS: The study encompassed two distinct time periods, namely, pre-bundle and bundle. The number of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) episodes per catheter days for each timeframe was determined. FINDINGS/RESULTS: Upon implementation of the central line bundle, the rate of CRBSI reduced significantly from 4...

Launch of in-house sensitive cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) mould polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays increased detection of moulds meeting suspected healthcare-associated infection (HAI) criteria. Definition was based on time from admission and mould detection in culture or via molecular methods. We created a modified mould HAI algorithm incorporating clinical context into the case definition, which allowed for better capture of possible mould HAIs, decreased number of investigations, and improved utilization of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) resources...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) including assisted living facilities (ALFs) are hubs for high transmission and poor prognosis of COVID-19 among the residents who are more susceptible due to old age and comorbidities. AIM: Houston Health Department conducted assessments of ALFs within the City of Houston to determine preparedness and existing preventive measures at the facilities. METHODS: Onsite assessments were conducted at ALFs using a modified CDC Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Tool...

BACKGROUND: A number of infection control interventions were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to reduce the spread of this virus. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if these interventions were associated with reduced nosocomial bacterial infections in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Observational data were obtained from the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) based on admitted hospital patients in two 6-month timeframes representing pandemic and pre-pandemic hospital practices...

BACKGROUND: There is not yet a consensus regarding the in-use effectiveness of ultraviolet irradiation (UV-C) as a supplementary tool for terminal room disinfection. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To summarize and evaluate literature detailing the germicidal effectiveness of UV-C disinfection on high-touch surfaces in the patient environment. METHODS: A literature search was carried out utilizing PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if intervention included UV-C after standard room disinfection in hospital rooms evaluated microbiologically by surface type...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Cancer has been associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in CDI patients. However, data on delayed mortality in cancer patients with CDI are scarce. AIM/OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare outcomes between oncological patients and the general population with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) after 90 days of follow-up. METHODS: A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in 28 hospitals participating in the VINCat program...

BACKGROUND: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are central venous catheters inserted peripherally but terminate in great vessels. PICCs are widely used for patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy in both in-patient and out-patient settings. AIM: This study was carried out to understand PICC-related complications, specifically infections and causal pathogens, in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala, South India. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of PICC insertions and follow-up during a 9 years period to look at patient demographics and infections related to PICC was carried out...

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to study the prevalence of HAIs in a newly established MICU, common microorganisms causing HAIs and their antibiotic-sensitivity profile, and antimicrobial utilization and mortality rate. METHODS: The present retrospective cohort study was carried out at AIIMS, Bhopal (2015-2019). The prevalence of HAIs was determined; sites of HAIs and common causative microorganisms were identified, and their antibiotic-sensitivity profiles were studied...

BACKGROUND: Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Teams (IPCTs) provide clinical cover during weekdays with on call support at weekends. We report the results of a 6-month pilot of extending infection prevention and control nursing (IPCN) clinical cover to weekends at one National Health Service trust in the United Kingdom. METHODS: We examined daily episodes of infection prevention and control (IPC) clinical advice given before and during the pilot of extended IPCN to weekends...

BACKGROUND: The use of point-of-care testing (POCT) for influenza is not routine in many hospitals in the United Kngdom and testing is currently by laboratory-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. This review aims to evaluate patients who were tested positive for influenza in the last winter season and project if future POCT usage at initial point of patient assessment could assist in better utilisation of healthcare resources. METHODS: Retrospective review in a district general hospital without POCT facility for influenza...

OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial resistance poses a major public health threat. Despite Indian retail sector antibiotic consumption per capita increasing by approximately 22% between 2008 and 2016, empirical studies that examine policy or behavioural interventions addressing antibiotic misuse in primary healthcare are scarce. Our study aimed to assess perceptions of interventions and gaps in policy and practice with respect to outpatient antibiotic misuse in India. METHODS: We conducted 23 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a variety of key informants with diverse backgrounds in academia, non-government organisations, policy, advocacy, pharmacy, medicine and others...