scholarly journals Development of National Infection Control and Prevention Guidelines in Georgia, 2017–2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s189-s189
Author(s):  
Lali Madzgarashvili ◽  
Jamine Weiss ◽  
Marina Baidauri ◽  
Marika Geleishvili ◽  
Meghan Lyman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Steering Committee ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
International Guidelines ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: In 2015, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MoLHSA) of Georgia identified infection prevention and control (IPC) as a top priority. Infection control legislation was adopted and compliance was made mandatory for licensure. Participation in the universal healthcare system requires facilities to have an IPC program and infrastructure. To support facilities to improve IPC, MoLHSA and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) requested assistance from the US CDC to revise the 2009 National IPC guidelines, which were translated versions of international guidelines and not adapted to the Georgian context. Methods: An IPC guideline technical working group (TWG), comprising clinical epidemiologists, IPC nurses, head nurses, and infectious diseases doctors from the NCDC, academic and healthcare organizations and the CDC was formed to lead the development of the national IPC guidelines. Additionally, an IPC steering committee was established to review and verify the guidelines’ compliance with applicable decrees and regulations. The TWG began work in April 2017 and was divided into 4 subgroups, each responsible for developing specific guideline topics. A general IPC guideline template for low- and middle-income countries was used to develop 7 of the guidelines. Additional reference materials and international guidelines were used to develop all the guidelines. Drafts were shared with the subgroups and the steering committee during 2 workshops to discuss unresolved technical issues and to validate the guidelines. Results: The revised guidelines consist of 18 topics. In addition to standard precautions (eg, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, injection safety, etc) and transmission-based precautions, the guideline topics include laundry, environmental cleaning and disinfection, decontamination and sterilization, occupational health and safety, biosafety in clinical laboratory, blood bank and transfusion services, intensive care unit, emergency room, and mortuary. They do not include healthcare-associated infection surveillance or organism-specific guidance. To supplement the guidelines, a separate implementation manual was developed. The guidelines were approved by MoLHSA in October 2019. The TWG continues to be engaged in IPC activities, assisting with guideline rollout, training, and monitoring, and drafting the National IPC strategy and action plans. Conclusions: The Georgian Ministry of Health developed national IPC guidelines using local experts. This model can be replicated in other low- and middle-income countries that lack country-specific IPC guidelines. It can also be adapted to develop facility-level guidelines and standard operating procedures.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Gap Analysis of Infection Control Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1208-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Weinshel ◽  
Angela Dramowski ◽  
Ágnes Hajdu ◽  
Saul Jacob ◽  
Basudha Khanal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
High Income ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Surgical Equipment ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
Low And Middle Income

BACKGROUNDHealthcare-associated infection rates are higher in low- and middle-income countries compared with high-income countries, resulting in relatively larger incidence of patient mortality and disability and additional healthcare costs.OBJECTIVETo use the Infection Control Assessment Tool to assess gaps in infection control (IC) practices in the participating countries.METHODSSix international sites located in Argentina, Greece, Hungary, India, Nepal, and South Africa provided information on the health facility and the surgical modules relating to IC programs, surgical antibiotic use and surgical equipment procedures, surgical area practices, sterilization and disinfection of equipment and intravenous fluid, and hand hygiene. Modules were scored for each country.RESULTSThe 6 international sites completed 5 modules. Of 121 completed sections, scores of less than 50% of the recommended IC practices were received in 23 (19%) and scores from 50% to 75% were received in 43 (36%). IC programs had various limitations in many sites and surveillance of healthcare-associated infections was not consistently performed. Lack of administration of perioperative antibiotics, inadequate sterilization and disinfection of equipment, and paucity of hand hygiene were found even in a high-income country. There was also a lack of clearly written defined policies and procedures across many facilities.CONCLUSIONSOur results indicate that adherence to recommended IC practices is suboptimal. Opportunities for improvement of IC practices exist in several areas, including hospital-wide IC programs and surveillance, antibiotic stewardship, written and posted guidelines and policies across a range of topics, surgical instrument sterilization procedures, and improved hand hygiene.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(10):1208–1214

scholarly journals Antibiotic Use in Low and Middle-Income Countries and the Challenges of Antimicrobial Resistance in Surgery

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Massimo Sartelli ◽  
Timothy C. Hardcastle ◽  
Fausto Catena ◽  
Alain Chichom-Mefire ◽  
Federico Coccolini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
And Control ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a phenomenon resulting from the natural evolution of microbes. Nonetheless, human activities accelerate the pace at which microorganisms develop and spread resistance. AMR is a complex and multidimensional problem, threatening not only human and animal health, but also regional, national, and global security, and the economy. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, and poor infection prevention and control strategies are contributing to the emergence and dissemination of AMR. All healthcare providers play an important role in preventing the occurrence and spread of AMR. The organization of healthcare systems, availability of diagnostic testing and appropriate antibiotics, infection prevention and control practices, along with prescribing practices (such as over-the-counter availability of antibiotics) differs markedly between high-income countries and low and middle-income countries (LMICs). These differences may affect the implementation of antibiotic prescribing practices in these settings. The strategy to reduce the global burden of AMR includes, among other aspects, an in-depth modification of the use of existing and future antibiotics in all aspects of medical practice. The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery has instituted an interdisciplinary working group including healthcare professionals from different countries with different backgrounds to assess the need for implementing education and increasing awareness about correct antibiotic prescribing practices across the surgical pathways. This article discusses aspects specific to LMICs, where pre-existing factors make surgeons’ compliance with best practices even more important.

scholarly journals Highlighting the need for more infection control practitioners in low- and middle-income countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lipke ◽  
C. Emerson ◽  
C. McCarthy ◽  
M. Briggs-Hagen ◽  
J. Farley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and their coping mechanisms in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winifred Serwaa Bonsu ◽  
Dina Adei ◽  
Williams Agyemang-Duah
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: Despite the contribution of the baking industry to employment creation and income generation in low-and middle-income countries, the sector is also prone to occupational health and safety challenges which could undermine the quality of life and wellbeing of bakers within the industry. However, studies on the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and the strategies they employ to control their exposure to occupational hazards are still lacking in Ghana. In this study, we aimed at examining the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana and further explore their coping mechanisms. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional design, the study was conducted among 172 bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. A questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions was used to take data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were adopted to analyze the data. Results: We found that the participants were exposed to different types of occupational hazards including physical (noise, flour dust/smoke, fire, and high temperature), biological (mosquitoes, insects and rodents), psychosocial (stress, verbal abuse, and poor interpersonal relationship), chemical (chemicals in the local soap used to clean and wash napkins after baking), and ergonomic hazards (standing, sitting and bending repetitively). Some of the coping mechanisms employed to reduce exposure to the various types of occupational hazards comprise the use of a wooden and metallic peel to place and remove bread from the oven, removing excess fire from the oven with a peel, use of mosquito repellent and coil, rest breaks and staying hydrated. Conclusion: The findings from this study are therefore critical to informing policymakers in implementing occupational health and safety policies to safeguard the health of bakers in Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries. We suggest that there should be participatory and action-oriented programs organized for bakers at their weekly meetings to discuss relevant occupational health and safety issues. Union executives should carry out worksite inspection accompanied by a checklist to monitor the progress of the sessions held during meetings.

scholarly journals Lost in translation: The challenge of adapting integrated approaches for worker health and safety for low- and middle-income countries

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. e0182607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glorian Sorensen ◽  
Eve M. Nagler ◽  
Pratibha Pawar ◽  
Prakash C. Gupta ◽  
Mangesh S. Pednekar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Worker Health And Safety ◽  
Integrated Approaches ◽  
Lost In Translation ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals 154Gap Analysis of infection control practices in low and middle income countries (LMIC): Role of antimicrobial stewardship

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S75-S75
Author(s):  
Kristy Weinshel ◽  
Angela Dramowski ◽  
Katerina Mougkou ◽  
Chimanjita Phukan ◽  
Agnes Hajdu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

International and Global Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 439-462
Author(s):  
Barry S. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Structural Adjustment ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Foreign Assistance ◽  
Social Injustice ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Social injustice leads to profoundly increased rates of illness and premature death in low- and middle-income countries related to inadequate public health services and medical care, internal factors such as extreme poverty and unaccountable governments, and external factors such as debt, structural adjustment policies, and trade barriers. This chapter describes the impact of social injustice on public health in low- and middle-income countries, including issues related to endemic and epidemic diseases and health risks associated with poverty, living conditions, occupational health and safety, and violence. It discusses what needs to be done, including promoting approaches that focus on poor people, promoting and protecting human rights, improving healthcare systems, improving education and health literacy, increasing foreign assistance, reducing the import of hazards into these countries, preventing violence, promoting representative government, changing international economic policies, and promoting sustainable development. Text boxes address trafficking in persons, hunger and malnutrition, and the import of hazardous substances from high-income countries to low- and middle-income countries.

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