Integration of IPC/WASH critical conditions into quality of care and quality improvement tools and processes: Bangladesh case study.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control
; 13(1): 100, 2024 Sep 11.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39256798
ABSTRACT
Unsafe patient care in hospitals, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is often caused by poor infection prevention and control (IPC) practices; insufficient support for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and inadequate waste management. We looked at the intersection of IPC, WASH, and the global initiative of improving health care quality, specifically around maternal and newborn care in Bangladesh health facilities. We identified 8 primary quality improvement and IPC/WASH policy and guideline documents in Bangladesh and analyzed their incorporation of 30 subconditions under 5 critical conditions water; sanitation; hygiene; waste management/cleaning; and IPC supplies, guidelines, training, surveillance, and monitoring. To determine how Bangladesh health care workers implemented the policies, we interviewed 33 informants from 16 public and private facilities and the national level. Bangladesh's 8 primary guidance documents covered 55% of the 30 subconditions. Interviews showed that Bangladesh health facility staff generally rely on eight tools related to quality improvement (five); IPC (two); and supportive supervision (one) plus a robust supervision mechanism. The stakeholders identified a lack of human resources and environmental hygiene infrastructure and supplies as the main gaps in providing IPC/WASH services. We concluded that the Bangladesh government had produced substantial guidance on using quality improvement methods to improve health services. Our recommendations can help identify strategies to better integrate IPC/WASH in resources including standardizing guidelines and tools within one toolkit. Strategizing with stakeholders working on initiatives such as universal health coverage and patient safety to integrate IPC/WASH into quality improvement documents is a mutually reinforcing approach.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Infection Control
/
Quality Improvement
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Country of publication:
United kingdom