Policies for control and prevention of infections related to healthcare assistance in Brazil: a conceptual analysis.

This article is a theoretical-reflexive study that aims to discuss the development and changes in the quality of healthcare assistance to the patient over the years in Brazil, in light of the policies of control and prevention of Healthcare-associated Infection (HAI). Aspects of HAI and the process of change in health policy in Brazil, as well as the quality of assistance associated with its control, are approached in relation to policies of patient safety. There are various new theoretical and practical proposals created in Brazil. In spite of the difficulty of measuring patient safety, directed to the prevention and control of HAI, we emphasize that to only create policies and establish norms, guidelines, and indicators is not sufficient. If no structural support or conditions exist for interventions in the practices of healthcare professionals, aiming at results in acceptable levels, the control of HAI will not be achieved. Resumo Trata-se um estudo teórico-reflexivo, que objetiva discutir a evolução e as mudanças na qualidade da assistência ao paciente, ao longo dos anos no Brasil, à luz das políticas de controle e prevenção da Infecção Relacionada à Assistência à Saúde (IRAS). Aspectos sobre IRAS e o processo de mudança nas políticas de saúde no Brasil, bem como a qualidade da assistência associada ao seu controle, são abordados em relação às políticas de segurança do paciente. Há novas e várias propostas teóricas e práticas criadas no Brasil. Apesar da dificuldade de medir a segurança do paciente, direcionada à prevenção e controle das IRAS, enfatiza-se que somente criar políticas, estabelecer normas, diretrizes e indicadores não são suficientes. Se não houver suporte de estrutura e condições para as intervenções nas práticas dos profissionais na assistência prestada ao paciente, visando resultados em níveis aceitáveis, o controle das IRAS não será alcançado.

Evaluation of Programs of Infection Control related to Healthcare Assistance in Hospitals. / Avaliação de Programas de Controle de Infecção relacionada a Assistência à Saúde de Hospitais.

Objective To evaluate the Infection Control Programs in the state of Paraná's hospitals, considering a hypothesis of a minimum overall performance of 75%. Method This was a cross-sectional study of procedural evaluation, using a previously established instrument comprised of four indicators that evaluate the technical-operational structure (PCET), the operational guidelines (PCDO), the system of epidemiological surveillance (PCET), and activities of control and prevention (PCCP). The study was carried out between 2013 and 2014 in 50 hospitals for the initial sample. Results The overall compliance obtained was 71.0% (23.88pd), with the indicators of PCET being 79.4% (18.9pd); PCVE 76.0% (30.5pd); PCDO 65.5% (26.9pd); and PCCP 63.2%/(39.5pd). There was statistical significance to indicate the greater performance of PCIRAS in carrying out internal audits (p=0.0099), quality certification (p=0.01949), exclusive nurses (p<0.0001), contracted or permanent medical professionals (p=0.0005), longer work schedule of doctors exclusively dedicated for 4 hours (p=0.001), greater experience of doctors (p=0.0028) and nurses (p=0.0094). Conclusion The general compliance of these programs did not prove the hypothesis originally formulated, due to the PCDO and PCCP indicators. As such, it is possible to argue that the programs demonstrate the minimal suitability for their operations and to carry out the epidemiological surveillance of HAI, but they are impaired by the quantitative and qualitative insufficiency of the operational guidelines (PCDO) and the actions for control and prevention of these infections (PCCP).

[Disinfection with sodium hypochlorite in hospital environmental surfaces in the reduction of contamination and infection prevention: a systematic review]. / Desinfecção com hipoclorito de sódio em superfícies ambientais hospitalares na redução de contaminação e prevenção de infecção: revisão sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To search for evidence of the efficiency of sodium hypochlorite on environmental surfaces in reducing contamination and prevention of healthcare-associated infection HAIs. METHOD: Systematic review in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: We analyzed 14 studies, all controlled trials, published between 1989-2013. Most studies resulted in inhibition of microorganism growth. Some decreased infection, microorganism resistance and colonization, loss of efficiency in the presence of dirty and surface-dried viruses. CONCLUSION: The hypochlorite is an effective disinfectant, however, the issue of the direct relation with the reduction of HAIs remains. The absence of control for confounding variables in the analyzed studies made the meta-analysis performance inadequate. The evaluation of internal validity using CONSORT and TREND was not possible because its contents were not appropriate to laboratory and microbiological studies. As a result, there is an urgent need for developing specific protocol for evaluating such studies.

Governmental surveillance system of healthcare-associated infection in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the structure of governmental surveillance systems for Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) in the Brazilian Southeastern and Southern States. METHOD: A cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study, with data collection by means of two-phases: characterization of the healthcare structure and of the HAI surveillance system. RESULTS: The governmental teams for prevention and control of HAI in each State ranged from one to six members, having at least one nurse. All States implemented their own surveillance system. The information systems were classified into chain (n=2), circle (n=4) or wheel (n=1). CONCLUSION: Were identified differences in the structure and information flow from governmental surveillance systems, possibly limiting a nationwide standardization. The present study points to the need for establishing minimum requirements in public policies, in order to guide the development of HAI surveillance systems.

[Evaluation of practices for the prevention and control of bloodstream infections in a government hospital]. / Avaliação das práticas de prevenção e controle de infecção da corrente sanguínea em um hospital governamental.

The aim of this study was to observe clinical procedures in order to evaluate the practices used for the control and prevention of bloodstream infections associated with short-term central venous catheters (BSI-ACVC). The study data came from 5877 assessments distributed among selected practices. The results revealed the following adherence rates among the practices selected: 91.6% for recording the indication and permanence time of the CVC, 51.5% for adhering to the care and maintenance of the dressing at the CVC insertion site and its devices, 10.7% for hand hygiene practices while performing procedures related to the CVC, and 0.0% for the practices related to the insertion of the central venous catheter (CVC). The results demonstrate the need for further elaboration of strategies that ensure sustainable compliance practices for prevention and control BSI-ACVC in the institution being assessed.

[Removing biofilm from a endoscopic: evaluation of disinfection methods currently used]. / Remoção de biofilme em canais de endoscópios: avaliação de métodos de desinfecção atualmente utilizados.

Laboratory experimental study that compared the effectiveness of five methods of disinfection for the removal of biofilm in gastrointestinal endoscopes. New transparent tubes of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®) were used as specimens to simulate the channels of flexible endoscopes. After pre-cleaning the tubes were intentionally contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and subjected to disinfection methods. As a result, none removed 100% of these biofilms. What else physically removed biofilm was 2% glutaraldehyde in an automatic processor, probably justified by the double clean, since the equipment has this phase at the beginning of your cycle. The method less effective for removing plaque and other debris was the acidic electrolytic water. These results suggest that the cleaning is most striking in the removal of biofilms that disinfection of consecutive since glutaraldehyde disinfectant by machine is more efficient, it is a fastener organic waste.

[Intraoperative nursing in bariatric surgery: integrative review]. / Enfermagem transoperatória nas cirurgias de redução de peso: revisão integrativa da literatura.

Integrative review of scientific literature study to identify and analyze the production of knowledge about clinical advances in security needs of patients during the intraoperative period of bariatric surgery. It was based on 12 selected studies in electronic databases, with descriptors previously defined. Except for two studies, the specific content of this production was composed of the general context of perioperative care. The studies highlight the possible state of the art of nursing activities on these needs, which are well established, including recommendations by several guidelines. However, they are fundamentally based on the science of traditional clinical practice through the development of rational judgments issued by experts. It concludes for the relevance of primary studies to evaluate the impact and resolution of the identified resources to answer those needs, as well as improving or generating other innovative features and identification of new needs.

[Evidence-based practices published in Brazil: identification and analysis studies about human health prevention]. / Práticas baseadas em evidências publicadas no Brasil: identificação e reflexão na área da prevenção em saúde humana.

Integrative review of Brazilian studies about evidence-based practices (EBP) about prevention in human health, published in Web of Science/JCR journals, between October 2010 and April 2011. The aim was to identify the specialties that most accomplished these studies, their foci and methodological approaches. Based on inclusion criteria, 84 studies were selected, mainly published in public health journals, focusing on primary care and also addressing clinical issues and different specialties. Prevention foci and methodological approaches also varied, with a predominance of systematic reviews without meta-analysis. The results indicate that there is no single way to conceptualize and practice EBP in the field of prevention, and that its application may not only serve to obtain indisputable evidence to equip intervention actions. This endless knowledge area is under construction, with a view to the analysis and further understanding of health phenomena.

[Systematic review and meta-analysis of the predictive value of C-reactive protein in postoperative infections]. / Revisão sistemática e metanálise sobre o valor preditivo da proteína C-reativa em infecção pós-operatória.

This systematic review on C-reactive protein (CRP) was performed with the purpose to identify its predictive value in the prognosis/diagnosis of infection in surgical patients. The sources used in the search were: COCHRANE, EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE and OVID, and bibliographic references of the located studies. All studies found increased CRP levels after surgery in cases of postoperative infection (PO), in eight studies a CRP peak between the second and third PO was reported as normal aspect of the CRP curve, reducing in patients without postoperative complications and increasing in patients with complications. The meta-analysis revealed an average of 85% (sensitivity), 86% (specificity), the area under the SROC curve was 0.9060, and the Odds Ratio was 23.56. Along with other clinical interventions, CRP is considerably valuable in the prognosis/diagnosis of postoperative infections.

[Evidence-based practices published in Brazil: identification and analysis of their types and methodological approches]. / Práticas baseadas em evidências publicadas no Brasil: identificação e análise de suas vertentes e abordagens metodológicas.

This is an integrative review of Brazilian studies on evidence-based practices (EBP) in health, published in ISI/JCR journals in the last 10 years. The aim was to identify the specialty areas that most accomplished these studies, their foci and methodological approaches. Based on inclusion criteria, 144 studies were selected. The results indicate that most EBP studies addressed childhood and adolescence, infectious diseases, psychiatrics/mental health and surgery. The predominant foci were prevention, treatment/rehabilitation, diagnosis and assessment. The most used methods were systematic review with or without meta-analysis, protocol review or synthesis of available evidence studies, and integrative review. A strong multiprofessional expansion of EBP is found in Brazil, contributing to the search for more selective practices by collecting, recognizing and critically analyzing the produced knowledge. The study also contributes to the analysis itself of ways to do research and new research possibilities.

[Sterilization with ozone in health care: an integrative literature review]. / Ozônio na esterilização de produtos para assistência à saúde: revisão integrativa da literatura.

The objective of this integrative literature review was to find evidence to support using ozone as a sterilizing agent for health products. The search was performed on the following bases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC and ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE; using ozone and sterilization as descriptors. Five articles were found between 1990 and 2008, which tested ozone as a sterilizer. All studies used the same type of investigation (experimental laboratory study) and achieved sterilization with ozone, but with different scopes and products, besides using different methodological procedures. Considering the ever-growing technology for new products, with the vast range of forms and materials, the findings point at ozone sterilization as a promising method, but still in an initial phase of investigation. Further experimental studies are needed to provide broader evidence regarding the possibilities and limitations of ozone sterilization.

Longitudinality and community orientation in the context of indigenous health.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze, from healthcare professionals' perspectives, the longitudinality and community orientation in Primary Health Care, offered both in the Special Indigenous Health District and in the primary network that assists non-indigenous population in municipal health services in Upper Rio Negro region. METHODS: a cross-sectional study with 116 professionals, 87 (75%) of indigenous health, 29 (25%) of municipal services. Primary Care Assessment Tool, professional version, used by Upper Rio Negro for Social Sciences region. For association of variables, chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis were used. RESULTS: longitudinality obtained an unsatisfactory score (6.4 and 6.5), as well as community orientation (6.1 and 5.6) for both services. Weaknesses refer to professional turnover, little knowledge about users' living conditions, precarious employment relationship. In indigenous health, satisfaction was higher when compared to municipal services. CONCLUSIONS: it is necessary to improve work management in health services, seeking to guarantee the quality of performance of professionals.

Performance of infection prevention and control programs in small hospitals. / Desempenho dos programas de prevenção e controle de infecções em pequenos hospitais.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the structure compliance and prevention and control processes of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). METHOD: A prospective and cross-sectional study conducted from 2015 to 2016 in small hospitals with up to 70 beds in a region of São Paulo state. Four previously validated indicators were evaluated and expressed as a compliance index (percentage in relation to the evaluated items). RESULTS: Fourteen (14) among the 27 recruited hospitals consented to participate in the study. The average compliance values for each indicator were: Program structure (61.0%); Operational guidelines (84.5%); Epidemiological surveillance (57.9%); and Prevention activities (74.5%). Greater compliance was observed in private hospitals (73.9%) and with the presence of an intensive care unit (90.3%). The hospitals had nurses assigned to the program (92.9%), but only 23.1% of the private institutions worked exclusively for six hours. CONCLUSION: Only the indicator referring to the Operational Guidelines of the evaluated programs was above 90% compliance for the median of hospitals. The greatest dispersion of compliance results among the studied hospitals was related to the Epidemiological Surveillance indicator.

Care coordination and longitudinality in primary health care in the Brazilian Amazon.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the attributes of primary health care, care coordination and longitudinality, from the perception of the professional and patients in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. METHODS: quantitative evaluative study, in which was used an external evaluation instrument with 469 professionals and 1,888 patients from 367 primary health care facilities that adhered to the Program for Improving Access and Quality of primary health care (Portuguese acronym: PMAQ) standardized by the Ministry of Health. Data were grouped by multivariate cluster analysis in order to find a classification of primary health care from the perspective of professionals and patients. RESULTS: the attributes of coordination and longitudinality are still expressed in a weak and undeveloped way in the Brazilian Amazon scenario. CONCLUSIONS: it is necessary to recognize the organizational barriers and what could promote conditions for the performance of health care teams in the perspective of a continuous, integral and coordinated care.

Primary Health Care attributes in the context of indigenous health.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the attributes of Primary Health Care from the perspective of health professionals, comparing services in the Special Indigenous Health District and the Municipal Health Offices. METHODS: a cross-sectional study in the Upper Rio Negro region, State of Amazonas, with 116 professionals. The data were collected through the Primary Care Assessment Tool. Scores were categorized (≥ 6.6) - strong orientation and (<6.6) - low orientation. The chi-square and maximum likelihood test for crossover analysis. The comparison between professionals the Kruskal-Wallis Test. RESULTS: a higher overall score was observed in the Indigenous Health District (7.2). The same trend was observed individually in the essential and derived attributes. CONCLUSIONS: this work may support strategies that positively impact the management model and work processes from the perspective of strengthening the primary care offered to the population from Rio Negro.

[Systematic review of surgical gowns in the control of contamination/surgical site infection]. / Revisão sistemática sobre aventais cirúrgicos no controle da contaminação/infecção do sítio cirúrgico.

Surgical scrubs are made with both fabric and non-fabric material. The study aimed to observe whether there is scientific evidence, according to the systematic review, that supports the practice of wearing scrubs in surgeries, according to the material they are made of. Basic intervention studies were considered, which investigated contamination and/or infection of the surgical site with the use of either reusable or single-use surgical scrubs, using people submitted to surgeries as the study population, either in real or simulated situations, at any period, without any language limitations. The strategy of searching electronic databases was used to find studies. With this, difficulties in isolating the object of intervention from countless other factors that can interfere in the outcomes were identified in studies of this type. Two studies (E1 and E2) showed strong evidence for the recommendation. In conclusion, there is no difference in contamination and infection of the surgical site between fabric and non-fabric scrubs.

[The working process in labor care in Londrina-PR]. / O processo de trabalho na assistência ao parto em Londrina-PR.

In this study, delivery care in the city of Londrina, State of Paraná, was investigated under the focus of health professionals' decisions to prescribe procedures such as fasting, enema and trichotomy. The theoretical referential was historical and dialectical materialism. The data survey was carried out in 2000 in five institutions and included individual interviews with ten obstetricians, eight nurses and one midwife. The interviews were interpreted using the speech analysis and then the thematic phrases were extracted. It was possible to identify the working process and its constitutive elements. The physician is the only one with decision power. Such power is reinforced by the following instruments identified in the study: medical prescriptions, nursing staff's work and the place where it is practiced--the hospital. The knowledge that supports this practice is the clinical model, represented by non-individualized interventions that focus more on the agents' needs than on their object's (the parturient).

Improving compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines: A multicenter evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Improving surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) use is an important element in the control of antimicrobial resistance. However, compliance with SAP guidelines is unsatisfactory. This study investigated the level of compliance with SAP guidelines in neurosurgery, and institutional characteristics associated with compliance. METHODS: This study assessed surgeries in 9 Brazilian hospitals. Medical record reviews and a structured questionnaire were used to assess compliance and to describe institutional characteristics. Six attributes of compliance with SAP guidelines were evaluated; full compliance was defined whenever all these attributes were met. Logistic and linear regressions were used to investigate the association between compliance, patients, and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Full compliance was 10% and was associated with weekly hours of infection control personnel per intensive care unit bed (95% CI, 0.2-0.1), hospital-wide dissemination of SAP guidelines (95% CI, 1.2-25.1), monitoring (95% CI, 1.2-25.1), and feedback of compliance rates (95% CI, 3.8-25.2). Daytime procedures had greater compliance regarding drug dose (odds ratio [OR], 3.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72-6.65) and initial time (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.24-4.25). Spinal procedures achieved greater compliance with initial time (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.12-3.01) and duration (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.7-2.16). CONCLUSIONS: A low level of compliance was identified, which pointed out the need for an innovative stewardship approach to improve adherence to SAP guidelines. Targeted training programs need to be developed to ensure dissemination of guidelines among surgeons. Monitoring, feedback, and closer interaction between the infection control personnel and the surgical team are key factors for better compliance rates of SAP.

[The nurse's work at a hospital supply center and his/her place in the care for nursing work]. / Trabalho do enfermeiro no centro de material e seu lugar no processo de cuidar pela enfermagem.

This is a study on nurses' work at central supply units (CSUs) with the aim of analyzing his/her social reality and transforming role in the caring process in health and nursing. It's a strategic research, with speech analysis of CSU nurses. Results show that their main activity is management, in a structured process that confirms the traditional nursing practice, having as object the coordination of medical-hospital material processing used for care. Their work is characterized by indirect care, and is instrumental not only for nurses' work, but for the work of other professionals as well. As a result, it not identified as specific nursing care, nor as care provided by the nurse. Its transforming potential upon relations and new production modes of care in health, and by the nurse, will occur first through his/her competence in the specific knowledge about CSUs than through his/her administrative skills.

[The nurse in charge of the materials and sterilization center and the perception of his or her social role]. / O enfermeiro da central de material e esterilização e a percepção do seu papel social.

This study has used the speech analysis in order to understand how the nurses of the Material and Sterilization Center (MSC) perceive their social roles and relate them with the structure of health care and with the process of the nursing care. The interviewed nurses appreciate their work and identify themselves with an already given social role. This valuation derives much more from the administrative role than from the one that is specific to the CMS. Within this context, there is no tension between their work and the relation, or none, with the care by the nurse. They express a perception of negative external value regarding their work, which is sufficient enough to generate tension and discomfort.