Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Narrative Overview
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Haque M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7532064 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Health institutions may choose to screen newly admitted patients for the presence of disease in order to reduce disease prevalence within the institution. Screening is costly, and institutions must judiciously choose which patients they wish to screen based on the dynamics of disease transmission. Since potentially infected patients move between different health institutions, the screening and treatment decisions of one institution will affect the optimal decisions of others; an institution might choose to "free-ride" off the screening and treatment decisions of neighboring institutions. We develop a theoretical model of the strategic decision problem facing a health care institution choosing to screen newly admitted patients. The model incorporates an SIS compartmental model of disease transmission into a game theoretic model of strategic decision-making. Using this setup, we are able to analyze how optimal screening is influenced by disease parameters, such as the efficacy of treatment, the disease recovery rate and the movement of patients. We find that the optimal screening level is lower for diseases that have more effective treatments. Our model also allows us to analyze how the optimal screening level varies with the number of decision makers involved in the screening process. We show that when institutions are more autonomous in selecting whom to screen, they will choose to screen at a lower rate than when screening decisions are more centralized. Results also suggest that centralized screening decisions have a greater impact on disease prevalence when the availability or efficacy of treatment is low. Our model provides insight into the factors one should consider when choosing whether to set a mandated screening policy. We find that screening mandates set at a centralized level (i.e. state or national) will have a greater impact on the control of infectious disease.
| S-EPMC3879151 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) are infections that occur while receiving health care, developed in a hospital or other health care facility that first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days after having received health care. Multiple studies indicate that the common types of adverse events affecting hospitalized patients are adverse drug events, HCAIs, and surgical complications. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention identifies that nearly 1.7 million hospitalized patients annually acquire HCAIs while being treated for other health issues and that more than 98,000 patients (one in 17) die due to these. Several studies suggest that simple infection-control procedures such as cleaning hands with an alcohol-based hand rub can help prevent HCAIs and save lives, reduce morbidity, and minimize health care costs. Routine educational interventions for health care professionals can help change their hand-washing practices to prevent the spread of infection. In support of this, the WHO has produced guidelines to promote hand-washing practices among member countries.
| S-EPMC6245375 | biostudies-other
Project description:As antibiotic resistance increases and the rate of antibiotic development slows, it is becoming more urgent to develop novel approaches to prevent and mitigate serious bacterial and fungal infections. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including those caused by Clostridium difficile, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida species, are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. HAIs are also a key driver of antibiotic use. Vaccines directed toward these pathogens could help prevent a large number of HAIs and associated antibiotic use if administered to targeted populations. Despite numerous scientific and operational challenges, there are vaccine candidates in late-stage clinical development for C. difficile, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa Basic, preclinical, and early clinical research to develop vaccines for other types of HAIs is also under way. In addition, other prophylactic immune interventions, such as monoclonal antibodies, for several of these pathogens are in advanced development. Here we describe the promise, challenges, and current pipeline of vaccines to prevent HAIs.
| S-EPMC5006206 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundClinically suspected and laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infections are frequent causes of morbidity and mortality during neonatal care. The most effective infection prevention and control interventions for neonates in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are unknown.AimTo identify effective interventions in the prevention of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in LMIC neonatal units.MethodsMedline, PUBMED, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE and PsychInfo (January 2003 to October 2020) were searched to identify studies reporting single or bundled interventions for prevention of bloodstream infections in LMIC neonatal units.ResultsOur initial search identified 5206 articles; following application of filters, 27 publications met the inclusion and Integrated Quality Criteria for the Review of Multiple Study Designs assessment criteria and were summarized in the final analysis. No studies were carried out in low-income countries, only 1 in Sub-Saharan Africa and just 2 in multiple countries. Of the 18 single-intervention studies, most targeted skin (n = 4) and gastrointestinal mucosal integrity (n = 5). Whereas emollient therapy and lactoferrin achieved significant reductions in proven neonatal infection, glutamine and mixed probiotics showed no benefit. Chlorhexidine gluconate for cord care and kangaroo mother care reduced infection in individual single-center studies. Of the 9 studies evaluating bundles, most focused on prevention of device-associated infections and achieved significant reductions in catheter- and ventilator-associated infections.ConclusionsThere is a limited evidence base for the effectiveness of infection prevention and control interventions in LMIC neonatal units; bundled interventions targeting device-associated infections were most effective. More multisite studies with robust study designs are needed to inform infection prevention and control intervention strategies in low-resource neonatal units.
| S-EPMC8815829 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThe number of patients and clinical conditions treated in home healthcare (HHC) is increasing. Care in home settings presents many challenges, including healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Currently, in Belgium, data and guidelines on the topic are lacking.AimTo develop a definition of HAI in HHC and investigate associated risk factors and recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC).MethodsThe study included three components: a scoping literature review, in-depth interviews with individuals involved in HHC and a two-round Delphi survey to reach consensus among key informants on the previous steps' results.ResultsThe literature review included 47 publications. We conducted 21 in-depth interviews. The Delphi survey's two rounds had 21 and 23 participants, respectively. No standard definition was broadly accepted or known. Evidence on associated risk factors was impacted by methodological limitations and recommendations were inconsistent. Agreement was reached on defining HAI in HHC as any infection specifically linked with providing care that develops in a patient receiving HHC from a professional healthcare worker and occurs ≥ 48 hours after starting HHC. Risk factors were hand hygiene, untrained patients and caregivers, patients' hygiene and presence and management of invasive devices. Agreed recommendations were to adapt and standardise existing IPC guidelines to HHC and to perform a national point prevalence study to measure the burden of HAI in HHC.ConclusionsThis study offers an overview of available evidence and field knowledge of HAI in HHC. It provides a framework for a prevalence study, future monitoring policies and guidelines on IPC in Belgium.
| S-EPMC7863228 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mycolicibacterium neoaurum is a rapidly growing mycobacterium and an emerging cause of human infections. M. neoaurum infections are uncommon but likely underreported, and our understanding of the disease spectrum and optimum management is incomplete. We summarize demographic and clinical characteristics of a case of catheter-related M. neoaurum bacteremia in a child with leukemia and those of 36 previously reported episodes of M. neoaurum infection. Most infections occurred in young to middle-aged adults with serious underlying medical conditions and commonly involved medical devices. Overall, infections were not associated with severe illness or death. In contrast to other mycobacteria species, M. neoaurum was generally susceptible to multiple antimicrobial drugs and responded promptly to treatment, and infections were associated with good outcomes after relatively short therapy duration and device removal. Delays in identification and susceptibility testing were common. We recommend using combination antimicrobial drug therapy and removal of infected devices to eradicate infection.
| S-EPMC10370869 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Implementation of artificial intelligence systems for healthcare is challenging. Understanding the barriers and implementation strategies can impact their adoption and allows for better anticipation and planning. This study's objective was to create a detailed inventory of barriers to and strategies for AI implementation in healthcare to support advancements in methods and implementation processes in healthcare. A sequential explanatory mixed method design was used. Firstly, scoping reviews and systematic literature reviews were identified using PubMed. Selected studies included empirical cases of AI implementation and use in clinical practice. As the reviews were deemed insufficient to fulfil the aim of the study, data collection shifted to the primary studies included in those reviews. The primary studies were screened by title and abstract, and thereafter read in full text. Then, data on barriers to and strategies for AI implementation were extracted from the included articles, thematically coded by inductive analysis, and summarized. Subsequently, a direct qualitative content analysis of 69 interviews with healthcare leaders and healthcare professionals confirmed and added results from the literature review. Thirty-eight empirical cases from the six identified scoping and literature reviews met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Barriers to and strategies for AI implementation were grouped under three phases of implementation (planning, implementing, and sustaining the use) and were categorized into eleven concepts; Leadership, Buy-in, Change management, Engagement, Workflow, Finance and human resources, Legal, Training, Data, Evaluation and monitoring, Maintenance. Ethics emerged as a twelfth concept through qualitative analysis of the interviews. This study illustrates the inherent challenges and useful strategies in implementing AI in healthcare practice. Future research should explore various aspects of leadership, collaboration and contracts among key stakeholders, legal strategies surrounding clinicians' liability, solutions to ethical dilemmas, infrastructure for efficient integration of AI in workflows, and define decision points in the implementation process.
| S-EPMC11315296 | biostudies-literature
Project description:It has become a standard measure in recent years to utilise evidence-based practice, which is associated with a greater need to implement and use advanced, reliable methods of summarising the achievements of various scientific disciplines, including such highly specialised approaches as personalised medicine. The aim of this paper was to discuss the current state of knowledge related to improvements in "nursing" involving management of delirium in intensive care units during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This narrative review summarises the current knowledge concerning the challenges associated with assessment of delirium in patients with COVID-19 by ICU nurses, and the role and tasks in the personalised approach to patients with COVID-19.
| S-EPMC7766119 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The challenge of healthcare-associated infections is compounded by the higher incidence of resistant organisms and the decreasing utility of antimicrobial agents. Historic and current vaccines have already contributed to reductions in healthcare-associated infections, and future vaccines have the potential to reduce these infections further. Through examples of bacterial and viral vaccines, this review will attempt to chart the way forward.
| S-EPMC5933536 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWhile there is an ample literature on the evaluation of knowledge translation interventions aimed at healthcare providers, managers, and policy-makers, there has been less focus on patients and their informal caregivers. Further, no overview of the literature on dissemination strategies aimed at healthcare users and their caregivers has been conducted. The overview has two specific research questions: (1) to determine the most effective strategies that have been used to disseminate knowledge to healthcare recipients, and (2) to determine the barriers (and facilitators) to dissemination of knowledge to this group.MethodsThis overview used systematic review methods and was conducted according to a pre-defined protocol. A comprehensive search of ten databases and five websites was conducted. Both published and unpublished reviews in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were included. A methodological quality assessment was conducted; low-quality reviews were excluded. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, informed by a matrix of strategy by outcome measure. The Health System Evidence taxonomy for "consumer targeted strategies" was used to separate strategies into one of six categories.ResultsWe identified 44 systematic reviews that describe the effective strategies to disseminate health knowledge to the public, patients, and caregivers. Some of these reviews also describe the most important barriers to the uptake of these effective strategies. When analyzing those strategies with the greatest potential to achieve behavioral changes, the majority of strategies with sufficient evidence of effectiveness were combined, frequent, and/or intense over time. Further, strategies focused on the patient, with tailored interventions, and those that seek to acquire skills and competencies were more effective in achieving these changes. In relation to barriers and facilitators, while the lack of health literacy or e-literacy could increase inequities, the benefits of social media were also emphasized, for example by widening access to health information for ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic groups.ConclusionsThose interventions that have been shown to be effective in improving knowledge uptake or health behaviors should be implemented in practice, programs, and policies-if not already implemented. When implementing strategies, decision-makers should consider the barriers and facilitators identified by this overview to ensure maximum effectiveness.Protocol registrationPROSPERO: CRD42018093245.
| S-EPMC7057470 | biostudies-literature