Introduction: Nosocomial infections are known to cause poor clinical outcomes. Hand hygiene is recognised as an effective tool in controlling infections. However, poor hand hygiene practice is evident worldwide. Thus, this work aimed to determine the effect of hand hygiene intervention on bare-below-the-elbow, before and after the use of mobile communication devices among allied healthcare professionals and students. Methods: Data was collected in four stages; stage-I was to verify the existence of protocols for hand hygiene. Stage-II was a pre-intervention blind-field observation to determine the compliance rate. Stage-III involved the administration of interventions and stage-IV was based on post-intervention observation to determine the effect of the intervention. The intervention was delivered using scientific literature on hand hygiene and supplemented with a manual demonstration of the same by an infection control nurse. The obtained data was analysed by Kendall rank coefficient test. Results: The compliance rate was found to be 22.0% and 53.0% in the pre- and post-intervention stage respectively, indicating significant improvement in the hand hygiene practices. Discussion: This study advocates active participation of the infection control team and suggests the need of periodic interventions on appropriate hand hygiene, particularly to internship students to sustain the hand hygiene practices and control the spread of nosocomial pathogens.

Mobile phones are indispensable tools in hospital practice but may act as sources for healthcare-associated pathogens. Despite global concern, no prior study in Lebanon had assessed the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) on healthcare workers' phones. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital, enrolling 166 participants (125 medical staff and 41 administrative controls). Sterile swabs were collected from all phone surfaces, followed by microbiological analysis for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Participants also completed a behavioral questionnaire assessing hygiene practices. The study detected universal contamination of mobile phones (100%). Two MDROs were isolated: one MRSA and one ESBL-producing Enterobacter cloacae, representing an overall prevalence of 1.2% (1.6% among medical staff). Risk behaviors were widespread: 85.6% of clinicians reported using phones in patients' presence, 34.4% interrupted clinical exams to answer calls, and only 9.6% disinfected hands afterward. Moreover, 60.8% had never disinfected their devices. The mean behavioral risk score was 5.16, significantly higher among interns (5.34) and residents (5.65) compared with administrative staff (4.39) (ANOVA, p = .01), suggesting lower risk with increasing clinical seniority. Our findings confirm universal contamination of mobile phones among hospital staff, with detection of MRSA and ESBL-producing bacteria among young pediatric clinicians. Although MDRO prevalence was low, high-risk behaviors were frequent, underscoring the need to reinforce basic infection prevention measures through targeted staff education. Hand hygiene continues to be the most effective strategy to limit pathogen transmission. Regular mobile phone disinfection remains a complementary measure.

An antimicrobial stewardship programme (AMS) aims to combat antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). While studies in developed countries show AMS's effectiveness in reducing AMR and HCAIs, its impact in African countries, given differing socioeconomics, remains unclear. To review the impact of AMS on HCAIs, antibiotic prescriptions, cost of antimicrobial procurement, and compliance with diagnostic measures for detecting resistant HCAIs in African countries. Two reviewers (S.S. and U.C.) searched databases like CINAHL, Medline, and PubMed for studies on AMS interventions in African countries, focussing on their impact on healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and antibiotic prescriptions. We excluded studies on outpatients, children, or those not in English and conducted a meta-analysis using data collected from changes in HCAIs before and after intervention using a random-effects model. The search identified 1153 studies, of which 14 were included in the review, while four eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. Thirteen of the 14 studies were designed using pre- and post-study methods, and one study employed a case-control method. AMS interventions effectively reduce antibiotic consumption, the cost of antibiotic procurement, and improve diagnostic measures for the detection of resistant microorganisms. The forest plot suggested a 34% reduction in HCAIs. In Africa, AMS interventions, whether combined or single, reduce HCAIs and antibiotic prescriptions in healthcare settings. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis lowers HCAIs in hospitals by one-third. However, findings are cautiously generalised due to the varied quality of studies and the limited number of African countries involved.

In early spring 2020, the spread of SARS-CoV-2, began which developed into a global pandemic of the disease COVID-19. Nursing homes (NHs) for older adults in Sweden experienced a significant spread of the virus resulting in many deaths among the residents and cases of illness among the employees. To explore how supply and use of products for protection of residents and staff against infection as well as IPC (infection prevention and control) training changed in Swedish NHs for older adults between the years 2019 and 2023. A web-based survey form with questions concerning supply and use of products as well as training of employees in IPC and use of governing and supporting documents concerning IPC in 2019 and 2023 was sent out to 300 NHs in Stockholm County in January 2024. This was the total number of NHs which were in operation both in 2019 and 2023. Answers were obtained from 130 NHs with a total of 7377 residents. The response rate was 43.3%. Supply of all products was improved in 2023. There was a significant association between improved supply and improved use for all products (p < .01) except for single use gloves. The number of employees who received training on IPC had risen significantly from 2019 to 2023 (p < .01). In 2023, all respondents used guiding documents on IPC. The COVID-19-pandemic resulted in several improvements concerning IPC in NHs for older adults in Sweden. After the pandemic staff got better training, managers used governing and supporting documents to a higher degree and the supply and use of protective products was improved, except for the use of single use gloves. The difficulties in correct use of gloves were found in 2019 and remained in 2023.

BackgroundAmid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, laboratories faced the challenge of maintaining diagnostic operations while adhering to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines. We investigated the impact of implementing rapid molecular testing of employees of a large medical laboratory to prevent workplace transmission.Aim/objectiveTo evaluate if fast-track PCR diagnostics, alongside local infection control measures, could reduce internal transmission and workplace sickness absence.MethodsEmployees with respiratory symptoms, but testing negative for SARS-CoV-2, were allowed to work if clinically healthy. All included employees completed a questionnaire and underwent SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing post-pandemic. Data on sickness absence were retrieved from local human resources systems, and comparative analyses were conducted between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.Findings/resultsOf 153 participants, 84 (55%) reported having had COVID-19, with 12 (14%) suspecting workplace transmission. Six (4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG nucleocapsid despite no COVID-19 diagnosis. Among 101 (66%) reporting respiratory symptoms and negative SARS-CoV-2 tests, 80 (79%) were allowed to return to the workplace. Mean workplace sickness absence during the pandemic 2020 (3.74%) and 2021 (4.19%) was significant lower compared with sickness absence in the laboratory before the pandemic in 2019 (4.54%). No larger outbreaks in the laboratory were recorded.DiscussionSARS-CoV-2 infections in the laboratory were mostly symptomatic and acquired outside the workplace. The combination of local IPC and rapid and frequent testing of employees facilitated an effective infection control and minimized workplace absence, maintain diagnostic operations.

Hand hygiene is a crucial measure for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections. While healthcare workers receive emphasis, hospital visitor hand hygiene compliance is limited. To investigate hand hygiene compliance among hospital visitors. A comprehensive search of four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect) and a hand search were performed from inception to October 2023. Observational studies in hospital settings were included if estimates for adult hospital visitors' observation were reported. Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA software version 17 to estimate a weighted pooled compliance rate with a 95% confidence interval. 17 studies were included in this study. The pooled hand hygiene compliance among hospital visitors was 37% (95% CI: 25 - 49). Subgroup analysis revealed that in low-middle-income countries, covert observation, ICU and various ward studies, longer observation durations, measuring hand hygiene at entrance and exit points, and smaller sample sizes were all associated with higher visitor hand hygiene compliance rates. The visitor hand hygiene compliance rate was notably low, much lower than that reported for doctors and nurses. This significant difference highlights the urgent need for focused attention and interventions to improve visitor hand hygiene practices.