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This survey aimed to determine the status of infection prevention and control (IPC) bundle practice and the most frequent interventional variables in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs)” Alp et al (2018).

Abstract:

AIM: This survey aimed to determine the status of infection prevention and control (IPC) bundle practice and the most frequent interventional variables in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs).

METHODS: A questionnaire was emailed to Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) Group Members and dedicated IPC doctors working in LMICs to examine self-reported practices/policies regarding IPC bundles. Responding country incomes were classified by World Bank definitions into low, middle, and high. Comparison of LMIC results was then made to a control group of high-income countries (HICs).

RESULTS: This survey report practices from one low-income country (LIC), 16 middle-income countries (MICs) (13 European), compared to eight high-income countries (HICs). Eighteen (95%) of MICs had an IPC committee in their hospital, 12 (63.2%) had an annual agreed programme and produced healthcare-associated infection (HAI) report. Annual agreed programmes (87.5% vs. 63.2%, respectively) and an annual HAI report (75.0% vs. 63.2%, respectively) were more common in HICs than MICs. All HIC had at least one invasive device-related surveillance programmes. Seven (37%) MICs had no invasive device-related surveillance programme, six (32%) had no ventilator associated pneumonia prevention bundles, seven (37%) had no catheter associated urinary tract infection prevention bundles, and five (27%) had no central line associated bloodstream infection prevention bundles.

CONCLUSION: LMICs need to develop their own bundles with low-cost and high level of evidence variables adapted to the limited resources, with further validation in reducing infection rates.



Reference:

Alp, E., Cookson, B., Erdem, H. and Rello, J. (2018) Infection Control Bundles in Intensive Care: An International Cross-sectional survey in Low-Middle Income Countries. The Journal of Hospital Infection. July 20th. [epub ahead of print].

doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.07.022.