Abstract

MALDONADO LIZARAZO, Natalia Andrea et al. Characterization of the infection prevention and control programs in hospitals located in Medellín - Colombia, 2011. Infect. [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp.136-145. ISSN 0123-9392.

Objectives: To characterize the infection prevention and control programs of 16 hospitals in Medellin, Colombia, 2011. Methods: This study was performed by a local surveillance network for antibiotic resistance (GERMEN Group), with technical and 􀃀 nancial support from the Secretaría de Salud de Medellín. A survey, adapted from the Rapid Evaluation Guide for Hospital Programs for Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections of Panamerican Health Organization, 2011 was conducted to each institution. Results: The results revealed that all of the institutions have committees for infection prevention and control. The search for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is conducted by nursing assistants in 68.8% of these institutions. All of the institutions have de 􀃀 nitions for the diagnosis of HAIs, using different versions of the international recommended guidelines. All of the institutions have protocols for hand hygiene, standard precautions and isolation, and 62.5% have a protocol for the study of outbreaks. All of the institutions have pharmacy and therapy committees, and 68.8% have programs for the rational use of antibiotics. All of the microbiology laboratories are equipped to identify microorganisms and to perform susceptibility test; 33.3% have protocols for the preservation of isolates. Conclusions: The creation of committees by institutional directive, the surveillance strategies and written protocols for the prevention and control of HAIs, as well as the capabilities of the microbiology laboratories are a number of the strengths found. However, there was a lack of standardization and shortcomings in the training of personnel and in the programs for the rational use of antibiotics.

Keywords : Infection control; Hospital infection; Prevention and control; Microbiology.

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