2023-07-03 07:59:00
Two recent studies (1, 2) rightly remind us that when it comes to hospital hygiene, good intentions are not always realized.
While the Covid crisis is on everyone’s mind and we were committed to building “the ideal world of tomorrow”, three years following the start of the pandemic, it seems necessary to always improve practices and the level of information caregivers and patients on the infectious risks associated with care.
Standards to follow
The BVA-Germitec study (1) reveals thata third of medical specialists are unaware of the recommendations in force defining the four stages of disinfection of an ultrasound probe. Hygiene and disinfection standards in health establishments are not always respected. Which is quite inexplicable in a country that has suffered so many worries on the infectious front.
The organization of the work of overworked caregivers would not promote good practices yet recommended by scientific bodies, according to the study. And to note that if the notion ofeco-responsibility is fashionable, it would not be so obvious in the medical and nursing environment.
In reality, here as elsewhere, prevention and taking into account the risks linked to infections – whether airborne, hand-borne or by nosocomial contamination – would be deficient in Pasteur’s country.
The prevention of environmental risks is a major challenge
The prevalence of infected patients varies according to the category of establishment and the department caring for the patient. It is higher in cancer centers (15.81%) and CHR/CHU (8.58%), intensive care units (23.17%) than in medical units (6.84%). %) (2).
This is likely due to the patient’s age, medical condition, type of surgery, or exposure to invasive devices. The Public Health France study also shows notable differences between the regions without drawing conclusions on the causes.
Professionals consider that the lack of mastery of environmental risks has consequences on the reputation of health establishments and on the economic level.
These results encourage us to pursue actions to prevent healthcare-associated infections by targeting them on the most frequent infections: urinary tract infections, pneumonia, surgical site infections, bacteraemia.
Finally, the results on the increase in consumption of antibiotics encourage the strengthening of actions in favor of the proper use of antibiotics.
Pascal Vialas, health journalist
Sources :
(1) “The risk of infection and its management in France – Crossed views of the French and doctors performing endocavitary ultrasounds“, BVA-Germitec study, June 14, 2023.
(2) French Public Health Study: “ Main results of the 2022 national prevalence survey of nosocomial infections and anti-infective treatments in healthcare establishments“
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