Project Plan to Prevent Healthcare Associated Infections

About Healthcare associated infection

In healthcare sector, healthcare associated infection is one of the concern or issue in modern time. It has been seen that, every year there are number of infections that occurs among the patients associated with the health care provisions (Monegro, Muppidi & Regunath, 2020). In fact, among the patients who admit into the hospital, one of the major source or complications that affect the patient are healthcare-associated infections. According to the reports of Centers for Disease control and Prevention (2021), this healthcare associated infection might cause a severe damage to the patients.  The report indicated that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) that are common among patients includes central line-associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Moreover, infections might also take place at surgery sites, which is also known as surgical site infections (CDC, 2021). It has been seen that; healthcare associated infection might result in considerable harm which includes greater patient usage of health care services, such as increasing duration of stay including the use of healthcare resources such as hospital beds, possible treatments, and investigations, putting more pressure on the professional workforce (Al-Tawfiq & Tambyah, 2014). As per the standard 3 established by National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2021), the health care personnel must adhere to the practice which focuses on preventing this healthcare associated infections. The report stated that, in addition to promoting antimicrobial stewardship, clinical governance as well as quality improvement are critical for preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections (safetyandquality.gov.au, 2021). The objective of this study is to develop the project plan to help the healthcare practitioner to develop a knowledge about preventing healthcare associated infection as well as carrying out research which will help them in decision making and improving problem solving skills.  

About Healthcare associated infection

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are diseases that individuals might contract while getting medical treatment in a care setting. These illnesses are frequently avoidable. Infections acquired while receiving health care, established in a hospital or other health care institution, and that first present 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days of obtaining health treatment, are known as health care-associated infections (Haque et al., 2018). Those produced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C difficile), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), as well as Escherichia coli (E coli) are some of the most well-known universal health care illnesses over which factual information is currently required (nice.org.uk, 2021). It has been seen that, there is a major knowledge gap among the nursing practitioners as well as other health care workers that often lead to the non-compliance of hand hygiene practice which is largely associated with transmission of pathogens that cause healthcare associated infection (Ahmed et al., 2020). It has been seen that, one of the primary contributory reasons to healthcare-associated illnesses is poor hand hygiene adherence. This is a major source of difficulties across the healthcare system, and it poses a substantial hazard to patients who are admitted to hospitals (Engdaw et al., 2019). Services must be obtained from this and coordinated throughout all appropriate authorities, according to the quality guideline for healthcare-associated infections. Supplying high-quality care as well as preventing as well as controlling healthcare-associated infections require a person-centered, integrated approach to service delivery.

SMART goals

SMART goals

The learning objectives of the project plan is written by following a specific format which is mentioned below:

Specific: Decrease in the cases of healthcare associated infections in a primary care setting.

Measurable: 40-50% reduction of total cases of healthcare associated infection because of the implementation of the project.

Achievable:  Delivering theoretical knowledge to the participants about hand hygiene practice such as hand washing, hand sanitizing by using alcohol rub solution along with using personal protective equipment to prevent HAI.

Relevant: A number of health care organizations have already implemented the hand hygiene practice in their care settings and significantly reduced the cases of HAI.

Time-bound: The project needs to be continued for 1 month period and the follow up needs to be done for 6 months in order to assess changes in frequency in healthcare associated infection cases.

To implement the project plan and attain the SMART goal which is established, a proper approach needs to be taken to implement the project plan successfully. For this the role-play approach will be taken which will help the project planner to influence the participants and encourage them to actively participate in the project. As per the role play approach, nursing education as well as training program regarding preventing healthcare associated infections by properly using the hand hygiene technique and protective equipment need to be given to the participants (nurses) and then the follow up approach will be taken. The education and training program would incorporate how to use the hand hygiene technique such as hand sanitizers, or how to carry out hand washing techniques and how to use the protective equipment while caring for the patients.

Literature Review

The literature review will focus on how hand hygiene practice and the compliance to the hand hygiene prevent the cases of health care associated infections which is the main motto of this project plan. The first article that have been selected in this context is published by Chen et al. (2011) where to analyze the economic efficacy of hand hygiene practice programmes, the researchers used a quasi-experimental, before and after study design with prospective hospital-wide surveillance of HAIs. A four-year hand hygiene practice programmes was established at the hospital, with a focus on using a hand rub which is alcohol-based. The research indicated that HAIs were down 8.9%, as were bloodstream, extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and critical care unit infections, according to the study. The following research selected in this context is published by Sickbert-Bennett et al. (2016) hand hygiene practices data was taken at the unit level, as well as hospital-wide values were calculated by combining all reporting units, adjusted by the number of patient days for every unit. Using generalized linear models to characterize overall trends, they looked at total continuous hand hygiene compliance percentages and HAI rates during the new programme. They discovered that improving hand hygiene compliance from already high levels can be an effective method for reducing infection rates. The third study selected in this context is published by Bhoi, Mishra and Bhoi (2020) where they sated that hand hygiene practice is the most effective technique for preventing as well as decreasing healthcare-associated infections, it is widely accepted. Hand sanitation is the most effective strategy to prevent microorganism cross-transmission, reinfection or hospital-acquired illnesses, and occupational susceptibility to infectious diseases. Better hand cleanliness is thus highlighted as an essential step to enhance health and is seen as an important aspect in prevention healthcare associated infection. The study of Allegranzi and Pittet (2009) is selected next which indicated that hand hygiene is by far the most effective strategy for the prevention of antimicrobial resistance but also minimize healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), though many healthcare workers do not follow best practices. Hence, hand hygiene promotion has a massive effect on cross-transmission of healthcare-associated pathogen and rates of infection. According to them, multimodal intervention programs can increase hand hygiene and reduce HCAI. The next study selected is published by Abdraboh et al. (2016) where the researchers carried out an intervention study which stated while hand hygiene is a very basic operation, adherence among health care professionals remains a key stumbling block and a complicated phenomenon that is difficult to modify. A total of 488 health care employees were recruited to participate in the study as well as completed it. the findings of the study stated that hand hygiene enhancement is both economical and effective in the hospital context, according to the study, and a long-term approach of education intervention and constant observation improves hand hygiene knowledge and compliance. The last article selected in the context is published by Phan et al. (2018) where implementing an instructional session in an obstetric and gynaecological facility, the researchers assessed hand hygiene compliance. Over the course of 370 hand hygiene transition times, 7124 possibilities were recorded, with 1531 events at baseline as well as 1620 possibilities six months later. Across all sites, hand hygiene compliance improved considerably from baseline. Knowledge ratings improved significantly from baseline to two months after the educational programme.

Literature Review

Significance of this problem

Infections obtained in care environments, often known as health-care-associated infections, are by far the most common adverse occurrence in health-care delivery globally. Every year, hundreds of millions of individuals are infected as a result of health-care-associated illnesses, resulting in major death and economic difficulties for health-care systems around the world (WHO, 2022). Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) not only harm the health as well as lives of patients, but they often impose a financial cost on patients and health care industry, involving direct financial loss and prolonged hospitalization. The prevalence of HAI has been shown to greatly increase hospital length of stay (LOS). In the world, HAIs are a leading source of morbidity and mortality, but they are also linked to a significant increase in health-care expenses every year (Zaha et al., 2019). It has been seen that, between 5 percent to 10 percent of the individuals among the patients those get admitted in the hospital might acquire the hospital acquired infection during their stay in the acute care, which was published in a report of NSW health of Australia. The report also indicated that among the Australian population the prevalence of this issue is also significant. Each and every year, over 165,0001 healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are reported in Australian hospitals, giving them the most prevalent problem affecting hospitalized patients. Patients can experience greatly as a result of a HAI. They have the potential to deplete healthcare resources (safetyandquality.gov.au, 2021).

Sampling method:

To carry out this research project a purposive sampling method need to be followed such as the nursing professionals who are associated with the primary care hospitals and associated with the direct patient care would be invited to participate in this study. The invitation to take part in rh study can be done by communication with them directly or indirectly such as using the e-mails or using the phone calls. The staffs who are not associated with patient care directly can be excluded from the study.

Ethical Consideration:

While carrying out research it is significant to get the ethical concern from the participants and collecting the informed consent from all the respondents before carrying out the research. Moreover, and autonomy for independence need to be provided to the participants to withdraw themselves from the study whenever they need. Before taking the informed consent all the purpose and the aim of the study need to be informed to all of the participants and after getting the consent the project needs to be implemented.

Data Collection Method

Data Collection method is one of the crucial safe while conducting a implementation project. In this study direction can be done by using semi structured interview. A questionnaire or a bunch of questions can be set which will be asked to the participant about the components of hand hygiene how they implement the hand in practice as well as other preventive measures while caring for the patients in the primary care settings. The questions will also ask about the gap in the knowledge and the resolving concerns.

Data Analysis

The collection of data next to be analyze properly to get the correct finding of the responses. In narrative approach can be taken for analyzing the data which should be performed by using qualitative research. In this context the best approach will be thematic analysis which will find the themes and the factors that preventing the hand hygiene practices among the nurses for the factors which driving them to remain adhere to the hygiene practices. Moreover, it will help concentrating the issues need to be resolved and taking off suitable evidence-based practice.

Strategies to implement the Project

To implement the project, plan the first component will be teaching and training all the participants about the hand hygiene practices and how the hand hygiene practice significantly reduces the health care associated infection. The training method might contain 7-day training program by giving the participants a firm theoretical knowledge as well as practical experiences which will help them to remain adhere to the hand hygiene practice and giving a better patient care. The second method would be implementing various changes in the hospital setting such as encouraging the nurses in using alcohol hand rub, or implementing video surveillance systems in the hospital care settings, or by employing a multitude of in-house hand washing trainers, and create creative hand hygiene campaigns or by utilizing track and trace that increasing compliance rates (freshandclean.net.au, 2019).

Evaluation Methods:

The process evaluation will include surveys, face-to-face question-and-answer sessions, a quiz, and a 6 months follow-up to examine changes in the frequency and prevalence of healthcare-associated infections. Face-to-face question-as well as answer sessions can be done or a questionnaire analysis can be done which will aid in the understanding the knowledge and learning of the participants, as well as evaluating the appropriateness of their learning. In addition, a statistical analysis can also be done to determine whether there has been a substantial decrease or increase in the prevalence of HAIs in the six months following the project's completion.

Time Panner for the Project

To implement the project a proper time plan would be required. Firstly, a 7-day implementation program can be taken. The time plan is illustrated below:

Day 1:

• The participants would be introduced to healthcare associated infections and how it spread from the patients to patients.
• The following activity will be guide them about hand hygiene practice and how and when to follow this technique.
  
  

Day 2:

Assessing the learning of the nursing participants and understanding what they have learnt from the previous step. To assess a quiz and test can be taken.

Day 3:

Theoretical to practical knowledge implementation can be done and how to wash hands/ how to use alcohol-based hand rubs and when to use them could be done. A health educator or trainer could be invited to teach the nurses to improve the compliance.

Day 4-7:

A 2-3 hours training could be arranged for each day and how to use alcohol hand rub machine/devices and how the nurses should take precaution before attending every patient could be guided.

Conclusion

In healthcare sector, healthcare associated infection is one of the concern or issue in modern time. It has been seen that, every year there are number of infections that occurs among the patients associated with the health care provisions. It has been seen that; healthcare associated infection might result in considerable harm which includes greater patient usage of health care services, such as increasing duration of stay including the use of healthcare resources such as hospital beds, possible treatments, and investigations, putting more pressure on the professional workforce. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C difficile), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), as well as Escherichia coli (E coli) are some of the most well-known agents that associated with health care associated infection. To prevent this a proper project plan such as nursing education as well as training program could be done by teaching them to properly use the hand hygiene technique and protective equipment and then a follow up approach can be taken. It has been seen that by improving the hand hygiene compliance significant reduction of infection rates can be achieved. To implement the project plan into the hospital settings it is essential to provide a wide range of alcohol-based hand washing facilities, various sorts of staff training, verbally and in writing reminders, various types of performance feedback, administrative assistance, and staff participation.

Reference

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