Building a successful infection prevention program: key components, processes, and economics

Infection control is the discipline responsible for preventing nosocomial infections. There has been an increasing focus on prevention rather than control of hospital-acquired infections. Individuals working in infection control have seen their titles change from infection control practitioner to infection control professional and most recently to infection preventionist (IP), emphasizing their critical role in protecting patients. The responsibilities of IPs span multiple disciplines including medicine, surgery, nursing, occupational health, microbiology, pharmacy, sterilization and disinfection, emergency medicine, and information technology. This article discusses the structure and responsibilities of an infection control program and the regulatory pressures and opportunities the program faces.     

COVID-19 exposures and infection control among home care agencies

Background and objectivesHome care agencies (HCAs) provide caregivers, who perform an important role in maintaining the health and well-being of older adults. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, paid caregivers had the potential to inadvertently spread COVID-19. We sought to characterize the effects of COVID-19 on HCAs and examine HCAs’ infection prevention and control (IPC) policies.Research design and methodsThis was a qualitative analysis of data collected from a national survey of HCAs. Surveys were e-mailed to members of a national HCA association on March 18, 2020. Questions included queries on demographics, COVID-19 exposures, effects of COVID-19, and IPC protocols.Results1204 HCAs responded with an average census of 96.2 (5−2800) patients daily. Across 36 states, 238 HCAs reported COVID-19 cases or exposures among caregivers. HCAs experienced challenges related to changing patient needs (e.g. decreased caregiver requests), staffing shortages (e.g., fear of COVID-19, inability to train caregivers), and management issues (e.g., inability to obtain supplies). ICP protocols varied in how HCAs followed recommended guidelines, responded to COVID-19 exposures, performed infection surveillance, and implemented precautions. Additionally, HCAs had varying policies for caregiver PTO.ConclusionsHCAs experienced COVID-19 exposures and/or cases early in the pandemic. HCAs identified staffing and PPE shortages, and lack of IPC guidance as challenges. Although caregivers are providing essential care for millions of older adults, they have been largely absent from federal, state, and health system strategies for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Future policies must include HCAs and their caregivers to optimize care for older adults.     

内蒙古自治区医护人员结核感染控制认知水平调查

目的 了解内蒙古自治区（简称内蒙古）医疗卫生机构医护人员结核感染控制认知水平。方法 设计包括分诊、隔离、消毒、通风、口罩佩戴、个人防护这几方面知识的问卷,对内蒙古12所结核病防治机构和综合医疗机构的1345名医护人员进行结核感染控制认知水平的横断面调查,实际收集到有效问卷1337份,其中医生540份(40.4%),护士797份(59.6%),进行分析。结果 关于隔离和通风方面,正确认知的医护人员比例均达99.0%(1324/1337,1324/1337);而对于与疑似或确诊肺结核患者接触时戴哪种口罩和消毒方面的正确率分别只有22.6%(302/1337)和54.3%(726/1337);有关口罩佩戴方面的知识的正确率最高只有81.7%(1092/1337)。结论 内蒙古自治区医疗卫生机构医护人员对结核感染控制的认知水平有待提高,需要加强对医护人员结核感染控制相关知识和技能的培训,其重点内容为消毒和个人防护方面的口罩佩戴类型及其适佩戴条件。     

Current issues in endoscope reprocessing and infection control during gastrointestinal endoscopy

The purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding transmission of infection during gastrointestinal endoscopy, factors important in endoscope reprocessing and infection control, areas to focus on to improve compliance, and recent developments and advances in the field.     

制定我国潜伏性结核感染全人群防控策略

加强潜伏性结核感染(latent tuberculosis infection,LTBI)人群的有效管理,是实现结核病防控目标的重要路径之一。目前,我国LTBI管理存在高危人群对结核病发病率贡献率偏低、发病风险特征尚未明确、现有筛查手段普遍存在局限性、预防性服药推广困难等问题。为改善上述现状,笔者提出LTBI全人群防控策略,通过加强全社会健康教育,尤其是国家政策引导及采用适宜在全人群中普及的公共卫生手段,降低疾病对全社会的危害。作为患者管理策略及高危人群策略的重要补充,科学可行的LTBI全人群管理策略,包括充分借助现阶段创新技术手段开展主动筛查、人群监测等措施,对于制定新时代我国结核感染控制规划和政策,逐步实现“终止结核病”战略目标将具有重要意义。     

Informatics and epidemiology in infection control

Increasing amounts of hospital data are available electronically and offer new possibilities in performing surveillance for health care-associated infections. To use electronic information effectively, health care epidemiologists need to be aware of potential sources of data, issues with data integrity, and the trade-offs in using electronic data for surveillance as opposed to traditional manual surveillance. In reality, a combined surveillance approach may provide the best possible result. A clear understanding of the epidemiologic principles, such as prevalence and incidence, and some of the nuances behind these principles are essential for the proper interpretation of the epidemiologic data.     

《基层医疗卫生机构结核感染预防与控制指南》解读

《基层医疗卫生机构结核感染预防与控制指南》(T/CHATA-018-2022)是中国防痨协会于2022年2月24日发布的团体标准,于当日起实施。为了使相关人员更好地了解该项标准的主要内容,本文详细解读了该标准编制的背景、主要内容及其依据和用途。