Asked about the biggest challenge for their organization regarding HAI prevention, 36% listed “measuring compliance with infection prevention practices, such as hand hygiene,” and 30% chose “timely and efficient tracking of all or targeted HAIs across the hospital population.”
Among specific HAI prevention interventions, removal of unnecessary indwelling urinary catheters was endorsed by 55% of respondents as being the most challenging in their organizations; smaller proportions listed avoidance of central-line-associated infections (22%), antimicrobial prophylaxis for preventing surgical site infections (16%), and interventions for preventing ventilator-associated infections (6%).
Dr. Varga, who also cochairs the National Quality Forum Steering Committee on Healthcare-Acquired Infections, urged hospital-based physicians to become active participants in the development of protocols for preventing health care-acquired conditions. “Be active in the design and engineering of the protocols, of the process, then be an active participant in the feedback loop that evaluates whether that process is working or not,” he advised.
“A lot of this doesn't directly impact doctors,” Dr. Varga added. “It's the hospital that's not getting paid. But the hospital is going to be all over you to be a participant in this.”