scholarly journals Response of Healthcare Workers to COVID-19 Protocols after the Index Case at 37 Military Hospital, Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
D. Afeng-Nkansah ◽  
E. Asumanu ◽  
P. Nyinaku ◽  
F. Acheampong ◽  
R. Lamptey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Index Case ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Emergency Medical Technicians ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Early Case Detection

The diagnosis and management of COVID-19 are much dependent on the adherence to standardized protocols. Healthcare workers play a crucial role in the case management of COVID-19 in many institutions. Globally, the disease burden is increasing, and the mortality has reached over 2 041 426 compared with 323 000 in May 2020. In West Africa, the pandemic has shown a slow but steady rise in many countries. Existing protocols and their utilization are best assessed after the occurrence of the index case. General aim. The study assessed the health worker’s response to COVID-19 protocols at three designated areas of the in-hospital management care triaging, holding area, and treatment centers. Method. A qualitative design was used to assess the response of healthcare workers with regards to early case detection, infection prevention, risk communication to clients and compliance to protocols. The study conducted observational visits and purposively selected healthcare workers comprising of clinicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and laboratory technicians who perform routine duties at the triaging, holding, and treatment centers. A total of 41 observations were made over two weeks. Results. Participants comprised 23 males and 18 females. At all observed units, the case definition was being used to screen attendants presenting, and appropriate categorization of patients was ensured. The use of temperature in screening for COVID-19 at the units was generally adhered to. Only 50% of participants used the prescribed PPEs. The physical distancing between healthcare workers and client and between clients and caregivers were not enforced; however, hand hygiene was practiced. Disinfection of working surfaces and equipment with 0.5% chlorine or 70% alcohol-based rubs were used most of the time. It was observed however that no psychological counselling was given to suspected cases or their relatives. Conclusion. Healthcare workers showed discordant response to different parts of the protocols for COVID-19 especially appropriate distancing. There was an enhanced awareness among healthcare workers and improvement in infection prevention protocols. The study also observed that as the risk of infection increased from triaging to holding area and to treatment centers, the response of healthcare workers to COVID-19 protocols also improved. Risk communication is an essential part of the COVID-19 management strategy. At the treatment centers, healthcare workers adhered to this protocol, whereas it was a major gap at the triaging and holding areas.

scholarly journals Utility of early diagnosis, contact tracing and stakeholder engagement in outbreak response in three COVID-19 outbreak settings in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
Mary Amoakoh-Coleman ◽  
Delia A. Bandoh ◽  
Charles L. Noora ◽  
Holy Alomatu ◽  
Abraham Baidoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Index Case ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Training Institution ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Factory Workers ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Early Case Detection ◽  
Index Cases

Objective: To describe how early case detection, testing and contact tracing measures were deployed by stakeholders in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana – using three outbreak scenarios.Design: A descriptive assessment of three case studies of COVID-19 outbreaks within three settings that occurred in Ghana from March 13 till the end of June 2020.Setting: A construction camp, a factory and a training institution in Ghana.Participants: Staff of a construction camp, a factory, workers and students of a training institution.Interventions: We described and compared the three COVID-19 outbreak scenarios in Ghana, highlighting identification and diagnosis of cases, testing, contact tracing and stakeholder engagement for each scenario. We also outlined the challenges and lessons learnt in the management of these scenarios.Main outcome measures: Approach used for diagnosis, testing, contact tracing and stakeholder engagement.Results: Index cases of the training institution and construction camp were screened the same day of reporting symptoms, whiles the factory index case required a second visit before the screening. All index cases were tested with RTPCR. The training institution followed and tested all contacts, and an enhanced contact tracing approach was conducted for staff of the other two sites. Multi-sectorial engagement and collaboration with stakeholders enabled effectivehandling of the outbreak response in all sites.Conclusion: Comparing all three settings, early diagnosis and prompt actions taken through multi-sectorial collaborations played a major role in controlling the outbreak. Engaging stakeholders in the COVID-19 response is an effective way to mitigate the challenges in responding to the pandemic.

Barriers to infection prevention and control practice among Amhara region teaching hospitals in Ethiopia: Qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walelegn Worku Yallew ◽  
Abera Kumie ◽  
Feleke Moges Yehuala
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Amhara Region ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Control Practice ◽  
And Control

Healthcare workers have good perception towards infection prevention, but there has been a poor practice towards it. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore barriers to practice of infection prevention and control practice in teaching hospitals in Amhara region. A phenomenological approach used to explore the lived experience of healthcare workers and management staffs towards infection prevention practice and control. The data was collected from ten in-depth interviews and 23 focus group discussion participants, by face to face interview using open ended interview performed in safe and quiet places. Data was managed using OpenCode software version 4.03 and contents were analyzed thematically. Totally ten different barriers were identified, such as availability of facilities, shortage of material supply, lack of maintenance of facilities and equipment, high patient flow, experience, emergency situation, healthcare worker behaviour and healthcare worker’s information about infection prevention, low awareness of patients and visitors and overflow of families and visitors to the hospital. For effective infection prevention practice implementation, barriers should be considered via identifying specific organizational, healthcare worker, patients and visitors as targets.

scholarly journals Scarlet fever outbreak in a primary and middle school in Germany: importance of case ascertainment and risk communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. Saad ◽  
N. Muller ◽  
J. Walter ◽  
L. Murajda
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Scarlet Fever ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Probable Case ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Case Ascertainment ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Response Measures

Abstract A cluster of 18 scarlet fever cases and large illness absenteeism (32%, 58/184) in a school prompted concern and further investigation. We conducted telephone interviews with parents to ascertain cases and better comprehend parents' views. We identified 19 cases, of which 13 reported scarlet fever diagnosis by a physician and only seven fulfilled the probable case definition. We concluded that the outbreak was far smaller than suspected and found that communication and reporting could be improved. Accurate information and communication is essential in an outbreak; the school's concern could have been alleviated sooner and response measures better targeted.

scholarly journals Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Prevalence Among Healthcare Workers in Contact Tracings in a Dutch Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s316-s317
Author(s):  
Veronica Weterings ◽  
Heidi Kievits ◽  
Miranda van Rijen ◽  
Jan Kluytmans
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Index Case ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Secondary Case ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Carriage Rate ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Mlva Type

Background: In The Netherlands, the national guidelines on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevention and control advocate screening of healthcare workers (HCWs) after unprotected exposure to MRSA carriers. Although this strategy is largely successful, contact tracing of staff is a time-consuming and costly component. We evaluated our contact tracing policy for HCWs over the years 2010–2018. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed in a Dutch teaching hospital. All HCWs who had unprotected contact with an MRSA carrier were included in contact tracing. When there had been a long period of unprotected admission prior to an MRSA finding, or when the index case was an HCW, the entire (nursing) team was tested. All samples of HCWs who were tested for MRSA carriage as part of contact tracing from 2010 until 2018 were included. A pooled nose, throat, and perineum swab was collected using the eSwab medium (Copan) and inoculated on chromID MRSA agar plates (bioMérieux) after enrichment in a broth. Molecular typing was performed using multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Results: In total, we included 8,849 samples (range, 677–1,448 samples per year) from 287 contact tracings (range, 26–55 contact tracings per year). Overall, 32 HCWs were colonized with MRSA (0.36%; 95% CI, 0.26%–0.51%). None of them developed a clinical infection. Moreover, 8 HCWs (0.10%; 95% CI, 0.05%–0.19%) were colonized with the same MLVA type as the index case and were detected in 6 of 287 contact tracings (2%). In 4 of 8 of these cases, a positive HCW was the index for undertaking contact tracing. In 3 of 8 cases, it was clear that the HCW who was identified in the contact tracing was the source of the outbreak and was the cause of invasive MRSA infections in patients. Notably, a different MLVA type as the index case was found in 24 HCWs (0.27%; 95% CI, 0.18%–0.40%) of whom 7 of 24 HCWs (29.2%) were intermittent carriers. Conclusions: This study revealed a sustained low MRSA prevalence among samples in contact tracing of HCWs over 9 years. Furthermore, it shows that when MRSA contact tracing is performed according to the national guideline, only 1 of 1,000 samples results in a secondary case. This is similar to the population carriage rate of MRSA in The Netherlands. More frequently, an unrelated strain is found. These findings raise questions regarding the efficacy of the current strategy to perform contact tracing after unprotected exposure.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Improving knowledge, attitudes and practice to prevent COVID-19 transmission in healthcare workers and the public in Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rapeephan R. Maude ◽  
Monnaphat Jongdeepaisal ◽  
Sumawadee Skuntaniyom ◽  
Thanomvong Muntajit ◽  
Stuart D. Blacksell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
The Public ◽  
Educational Videos ◽  
Prevention And Control Measures ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Key infection prevention and control measures to limit transmission of COVID-19 include social distancing, hand hygiene, use of facemasks and personal protective equipment. However, these have limited or no impact if not applied correctly through lack of knowledge, inappropriate attitude or incorrect practice. In order to maximise the impact of infection prevention and control measures on COVID-19 spread, we undertook a study to assess and improve knowledge, attitudes and practice among 119 healthcare workers and 100 general public in Thailand. The study setting was two inpatient hospitals providing COVID-19 testing and treatment. Detailed information on knowledge, attitudes and practice among the general public and healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 transmission and its prevention were obtained from a combination of questionnaires and observations. Results Knowledge of the main transmission routes, commonest symptoms and recommended prevention methods was mostly very high (> 80%) in both groups. There was lower awareness of aerosols, food and drink and pets as sources of transmission; of the correct duration for handwashing; recommended distance for social/physical distancing; and about recommended types of face coverings. Information sources most used and most trusted were the workplace, work colleagues, health workers and television. The results were used to produce a set of targeted educational videos which addressed many of these gaps with subsequent improvements on retesting in a number of areas. This included improvements in handwashing practice with an increase in the number of areas correctly washed in 65.5% of the public, and 57.9% of healthcare workers. The videos were then further optimized with feedback from participants followed by another round of retesting. Conclusions Detailed information on gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practice among the general public and healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 transmission and its prevention were obtained from a combination of questionnaires and observations. This was used to produce targeted educational videos which addressed these gaps with subsequent improvements on retesting. The resulting videos were then disseminated as a resource to aid in efforts to fight COVID-19 in Thailand and worldwide.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayat Mushcab ◽  
Jaffar Al-Tawfiq ◽  
Mohammed Ghamdi ◽  
Amani Babgi ◽  
Abdulrazack Amir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
And Control ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

Abstract Background The nature of the healthcare workers' jobs standing at the frontline against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) puts them at a higher risk of unknowingly contracting the disease and potentially contributing to the spread. This study aims to assess the overall positive seroconversion prevalence of SARS-CoV-2. Methods This is a longitudinal cohort study of healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital serving patients in several districts in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited between June - December 2020. Each participant had a serology blood test and completed the World Health Organization's risk factors assessment questionnaire. Results This study included 682 participants working in any capacity at a tertiary hospital, representing 15.7% of our population. Only 87 participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, a prevalence of 12.7% of all participants. Of the 87 participants, 17 participants never tested positive for COVID-19 rt-PCR before the study, a prevalence of 2.9%. Moreover, the improper technique of using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water after the risk of body fluid exposure and wearing personal protective equipment when indicated were found to be statistically significant to having positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay with P=0.02, P=0.03, and CI: 95% respectively. Conclusion Positive seroconversion rate was considerably low during the first wave of COVID-19 amongst our healthcare workers and similar to other healthcare organizations in Saudi Arabia. Seropositivity correlated significantly with adherence to infection prevention and control recommendations.

scholarly journals From research to international scale-up: stakeholder engagement essential in successful design, evaluation and implementation of paediatric HIV testing intervention

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrus Mugo ◽  
Irene Njuguna ◽  
Margaret Nduati ◽  
Vincent Omondi ◽  
Verlinda Otieno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Index Case ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Hiv Disclosure ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers

Abstract Stakeholder engagement between researchers, policymakers and practitioners is critical for the successful translation of research into policy and practice. The Counseling and Testing for Children at Home (CATCH) study evaluated a paediatric index case testing model, targeting the children of HIV-infected adults in care in Kenya. Researchers collaborated with stakeholders in the planning, execution and evaluation, and dissemination phases of CATCH. They included a community advisory board, the national HIV programme, County health departments, institutional ethics review bodies, a paediatric bioethics group, facility heads and frontline healthcare workers . Stakeholder analysis considered the power and interest of each stakeholder in the study. All stakeholders had some power to influence the success of the project in the different phases. However, support from institutions with higher hierarchical power increased acceptance of the study by stakeholders lower in the hierarchy. During the planning, execution and evaluation, and dissemination phases, the study benefitted from deliberate stakeholder engagement. Through engagement, changes were made in the approach to recruitment to ensure high external validity, placing recruitment optimally within existing clinic flow patterns. Choices in staffing home visits were made to include the appropriate cadre of staff. Adaptations were made to the consenting process that balanced the child’s evolving autonomy and risks of HIV disclosure. Dissemination involved delivering site-specific results in each HIV clinic, local and international conferences and sharing of study tools, resulting in the study approach being scaled up nationally. The deliberate engagement of stakeholders early in intervention development optimized study validity and accelerated adoption of the CATCH approach in nationwide HIV testing campaigns by the Ministry of Health and inclusion of paediatric index-case testing in national HIV testing guidelines. Involving policymakers and frontline healthcare workers throughout the study cycle builds capacity in the implementing team for quick adoption and scale-up of the evidence-based practice.

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