Implementing a multi-faceted framework for proprietorship of hand hygiene compliance in a network of South African hospitals: leveraging the Ubuntu philosophy.

BACKGROUND: Given the lack of hospital-wide ownership and shortage of nurses, the ideal model for large-scale implementation of hand hygiene (HH) behaviour change in low- and middle-income countries is unknown. AIM: The aim of the multi-modal strategy was to engender hospital accountability for HH compliance. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted in 50 South African hospitals (November 2015 to July 2017) and involved five overlapping phases: executive governance and corporate behaviour change; group-wide systematic situational analysis; development of an electronic-assisted direct-observed data collection and analysis application; launch and implementation; and accountable governance. Measurement of intra- and inter-hospital variance to six HH opportunities was calculated and data compliance dashboards were e-mailed weekly to hospital leadership teams to provide feedback of recorded HH compliance and behaviour to frontline teams. Baseline comparison (July 2016) of compliance was compared versus post-implementation (July 2017). FINDINGS: Baseline HH compliance of ≤60% was documented for 16% (8/50) of hospitals, whereas overall, 48% (24/50) of hospitals demonstrated a significant improvement (P < 0.01). Over the 13-month observation period, 523,422 observations were recorded with a mean rate of 277 ± 223 observations per 1000 patient-days. The group mean composite compliance improved by 7.8% (P < 0.01) from 77.4% ± 12.8 to 85.2% ± 8.8 between July 2016 and July 2017, respectively. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a multi-faceted HH model in a large, diverse group of South African hospitals translated into changes in the organizational systems and accountability, standardized HH compliance management and feedback that led to HH proprietorship.

Opportunities to optimise colistin stewardship in hospitalised patients in South Africa: Results of a multisite utilisation audit.

BACKGROUND: Colistin is an old antibiotic that has been reintroduced as salvage therapy in hospitalised patients because it is frequently the only agent active against Gram-negative bacteria. Various guidelines for colistin administration have led to confusion in establishing the appropriate dose, which has potential for adverse consequences including treatment failure or toxicity. The emergence and spread of colistin resistance has been documented in South Africa (SA), but no local information exists on how and why colistin is used in hospitals, and similarly, compliance with current dosing guidelines is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the current utilisation of colistin in SA hospitals, in order to identify stewardship opportunities that could enhance the appropriate use of this antibiotic. METHODS:  Electronic patient records of adult patients on intravenous (IV) colistin therapy for >72 hours in four private hospitals were retrospectively audited over a 10-month period (1 September 2015 - 30 June 2016). The following data were recorded: patient demographics, culture and susceptibility profiles, diagnosis, and indication for use. Compliance with six colistin process measures was audited: obtaining a culture prior to initiation, administration of a loading dose, administration of the correct loading dose, adjustments to maintenance dose according to renal function, whether colistin was administered in combination with another antibiotic, and whether de-escalation following culture and sensitivity results occurred. Outcome measures included effects on renal function, overall hospital mortality, intensive care unit length of stay (LoS), and hospital LoS. RESULTS: Records of 199 patients on IV colistin were reviewed. There was 99.0% compliance with obtaining a culture prior to antibiotic therapy, 93.5% compliance with prescription of a loading dose, and 98.5% compliance regarding prescription of colistin in combination with another agent. However, overall composite compliance with the six colistin stewardship process measures was 82.0%. Non-compliance related to inappropriate loading and maintenance doses, lack of adjustment according to renal function and lack of de-escalation following culture sensitivity was evident. Significantly shorter durations of treatment were noted in patients who received higher loading doses (p=0.040) and in those who received maintenance doses of 4.5 MU twice daily v. 3 MU three times daily (p=0.0027). In addition, compared with patients who survived, more patients who died received the 3 MU three times daily maintenance dose (p=0.0037; phi coefficient 0.26). CONCLUSIONS:  The study identified multiple stewardship opportunities to optimise colistin therapy in hospitalised patients. Urgent implementation of a stewardship bundle to improve colistin utilisation is warranted.

Stepwise introduction of the 'Best Care Always' central-line-associated bloodstream infection prevention bundle in a network of South African hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) remains a major international problem. AIM: The 'Best Care Always!' (BCA) campaign was launched in South Africa to reduce preventable HCAI, including central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). METHODS: The intervention took place in 43 Netcare Private Hospitals, increasing later to 49 with 958 intensive care units (ICUs) and 439 high-care (HC) beds and 1207 ICUs and 493 HC beds, respectively. Phase 1, April 2010 to March 2011, ICU infection prevention and control (IPC) nurse-driven change: commitment from management and doctors and training of IPC nurses. Bundle compliance and infections per 1000 central-line-days were incorporated as standard IPC measures and captured monthly. Phase 2, April 2011 to March 2012, breakthrough collaborative method: multiple regional learning sessions for nursing leaders, IPC nurses and unit managers. Phase 3, April 2012 to May 2016: sustained goal-setting, benchmarks, ongoing audits. FINDINGS: A total of 1,119,558 central-line-days were recorded. Bundle compliance improved significantly from a mean of 73.1% [standard deviation (SD): 11.2; range: 40.6-81.7%] in Phase 1 to a mean of 90.5% (SD: 4.7; range: 76.5-97.2%) in Phase 3 (P = 0.0004). The CLABSI rate declined significantly from a mean of 3.55 (SD: 0.82; range: 2.54-5.78) per 1000 central-line-days in Phase 1 to a mean of 0.13 (SD: 0.09; range: 0-0.33) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This intervention, the first of its kind in South Africa, through considerable motivation and education, and through competition between hospitals resulted in significant decreases in CLABSI.

'Esprit de corps': Towards collaborative integration of pharmacists and nurses into antimicrobial stewardship programmes in South Africa.

With the global threat of antimicrobial resistance now more emergent than ever, there should be wider collaboration between members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. This article proposes possible ways of engagement between the pharmacist, nurse and doctor. The pharmacist and nurse are placed in an ideal position through united efforts (camaraderie) to redirect healthcare towards improved patient outcomes while also reducing antimicrobial resistance.