Author: Sani e Zehra Abbasi MScN student at The Aga Khan University Karachi. She has done BSN from Liaquat University of Medical and health sciences Jamshoro. Worked at Patel Hospital Karachi initially as a staff Nurse then NES Instructor and currently Working as a Nursing Lecturer at Murshid School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Infection control is an essential aspect of healthcare, especially in hospitals, where patients are susceptible to various infections. The importance of infection control cannot be understated, as it helps to prevent the spread of diseases, reduce hospital-acquired infections, and ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare workers. An achievable, evidence-based approach to prevent avoidable infections from affecting patients as well as healthcare staff is infection prevention and control (IPC). Leaders, staff members, medical professionals, and clients at all stages of the healthcare system must continuously take measures to ensure successful IPC. (Infection Prevention and Control GLOBAL, 2019)
The need for an infection control department is crucial in all healthcare setups. Unfortunately, many hospitals still lack adequate infection control measures, which have resulted in a rise in hospital-acquired infections. This issue can be attributed to several factors, including inadequate staffing, lack of training, and insufficient resources. “Nosocomial infections, also known as infections, associated with healthcare (HAI), are an infection or illnesses that develop while undergoing medical treatment but were absent at the time of admission. They may manifest in a variety of healthcare delivery settings, including ambulatory settings, long-term care institutions, and hospitals, as well as after discharge. Occupational infections that may impact workers are also included in HAIs”. (Sikora & Zahra 2023). The establishment of an infection control department in hospitals would be a significant step toward addressing this issue. Making sure that all essential steps to eliminate the infection has been taken place would be the primary responsibility of that department. This would include developing and implementing infection control policies and procedures, providing training to healthcare workers, and conducting regular audits to ensure compliance.
One of the main benefits of an infection control department is the reduction of nosocomial infections. These infections can be life-threatening and are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of infections transmitted from hospitals can be greatly decreased by using efficient infection control strategies, thus improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Another benefit of an infection control department is the improvement of healthcare worker safety. Healthcare workers are at high risk of contracting infections due to their close contact with patients. The safety of healthcare workers can be guaranteed by implementing precautions to prevent infections, such as thorough hand washing and the use of protective gear, which lowers the risk of illness and absenteeism. Moreover, it can also enhance the satisfaction of patients and their families and build trust by increasing patient health outcomes. If infection control is been ignored in healthcare settings, where people with different conditions come into close contact, then the probability of outbreaks of disease increases. Drug-resistant infections, influenza, and other contagious illnesses like COVID-19, which spread quickly among patients and healthcare professionals have the potential to overload the healthcare system and have devastating consequences for those who are already vulnerable.
In conclusion, the establishment of an infection control department in hospitals is essential. The department would play a crucial role in preventing the spread of infections and improving patient and healthcare worker safety. It is essential that the policymakers or stakeholder takes this issue seriously and allocates the necessary resources to establish and maintain an effective infection control department in all hospitals to ensure patient well-being and safety.
References
Infection prevention and control GLOBAL. (2019). Retrieved May 20, 2023, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/infection-prevention-and-control. Sikora A, Zahra F. Nosocomial
Infections. [Updated 2023 Jan 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559312/
.jpg)
0 Comments