Hospital outpatient clinics as a potential hazard for healthcare associated infections

• Published in: Journal of infection and public health 2016-01, Vol.9 (1), p.88-97
• Main Authors: Hefzy, Enas M, Wegdan, Ahmed A, Abdel Wahed, Wafaa Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacteria - drug effects; Cross Infection - microbiology; Cross Infection - transmission; Data Collection; Disinfection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Egypt; Environmental Microbiology - standards; Female; Health Personnel; Hospital environment; Humans; Infectious Disease; Internal Medicine; Male; MRSA; Multidrug resistant bacteria; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Risk Factors; Standard Precautions; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1876-0341; 1876-035X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2015.06.015

Summary Healthcare acquired infections are no longer confined to the hospital environment. Recently, many reported outbreaks have been linked to outpatient settings and attributed to non-adherence to recommended infection-prevention procedures. This study was divided into two parts: The first is a descriptive cross-sectional part, to assess the healthcare personnel's knowledge and compliance with Standard Precautions (SP). The second is an intervention part to assess the role of health education on reducing the level of environmental and reusable medical equipment bacterial contamination. Assessment of the doctors’ and nurses’ knowledge and compliance with SP was performed using a self-administered questionnaire. Assessment of environmental cleaning (EC) and reusable medical equipment disinfection has been performed using aseptic swabbing method. The extent of any growth was recorded according to the suggested standards: (A) Presence of indicator organisms, with the proposed standard being