1. Minimizing infection through improved infection control
Topic 9
Minimizing infection through improved infection control
When Rabia first mentioned this conference to me in September I was impressed with her commitment, vision and energy for this international event. But frankly, I was a little nervous at how much work was needed to deliver such an ambitious programme in such a short time. It is an amazing testament to Rabia, Mustafa and other members of the organising committee and staff that this impressive programme has been realised here in this fantastic venue. I am delighted to be able to support this congress and the initiatives that are being shared to improve patient safety globally
In my presentation I will draw on
the global work on patients safety, reflecting on how patient safety affects us all
how we should and can learn from error
the work of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety and
the personal experience of some clinicians, professionals, policy makers and patients in their efforts to make healthcare safer across the world
I will be expending on this introduction in two interactive workshop sessions, one on Patients for Patient Safety and patient engagement and the other, a Learning from Error workshop

2. Learning objective
Demonstrate the devastating effects of inadequate infection control and know how to minimize the risks of contamination
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

3. Knowledge requirements
know the extent of the problem of infection
know the main causes and types of infection
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

4. Performance requirements
apply universal precautions
be immunized against Hepatitis B
use personal protection methods
know what to do if exposed
encourage others to use universal precautions
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

5. What is the urgency? can no longer rely on antibiotics
increased rates of nosocomial infections
infected patients:
stay longer in hospital
die
treated with more toxic and less effective drugs
prone to surgical site infections
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

6. Campaigns to decrease infection rates
WHO “Clean hands are safer hands” campaign
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campaign to prevent antimicrobial resistance in health-care settings
Institute for Healthcare Improvement “5 million lives” campaign
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

7. Main causes of infection
person-person via hands of health-care providers patients and visitors
personal equipment (e.g. stethoscopes, personal digital assistants) and clothing
environmental contamination
airborne transmission
carriers on the hospital staff
rare common-source outbreaks
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

8. Main types of infections
urinary track infections usually associated with catheters
Surgical infections
blood stream infections associated with the use of an intravascular device
pneumonia associated with ventilators
other sites
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

9. Main types of infections
Burke J Infection control-a problem for patient safety New Eng Journal of Medicine

10. Prevention in hospitals
visibly clean
increased cleaning during outbreaks
use hypochlorite and detergents during outbreaks
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

11. Prevention through handwashing
how to clean hands
rationale for choice of clean hand practice
technique for hand hygiene
protecting hands from decontaminates
promoting adherence to hand hygiene guidelines
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

12. Protective equipment gloves aprons face masks
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

13. Safe disposal of sharps
keep handling to a minimum
do not recap needles; bend or break after use
discard each needle into a sharps container at the point of use
do not overload a bin if it is full
do not leave a sharp bin in the reach of children
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

14. Performance requirements
apply universal precautions
be immunized against Hepatitis B
use personal protection methods
know what to do if exposed
encourage others to use universal precautions
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

15. Act to minimize spread of infection
before contact with each and every patient:
clean hands before touching a patient
clean hands before an aseptic task
after contact with each and every patient:
clean hands after any risk of exposure to body fluids
clean hands after actual patient contact
clean hands after contact with patient surroundings
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

16. Encourage others to participate in infection control
students may routinely observe staff who:
apply inadequate technique in handwashing
fail to wash hands
routinely violate correct infection control procedures
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.

17. Summary
know the main guidelines in each of the clinical environments you are assigned
accept responsibility for minimizing opportunities for infection transmission
let staff know if supplies are inadequate or depleted
educate patients and families/visitors about clean hands and infection transmission
ensure patients on precautions have same standard of care as others
frequency of entering the room
monitoring vital signs
Launched in 2004 following the WHA Resolution which called for Member States to
"pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety"
Promote awareness and political commitment
Expert-led technical programmes to improve patient safety worldwide
The Alliance will be publishing its Forward programme shortly.