Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak
Background: High compliance to infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital to prevent health care-associated infections. In the worst 2014–2015 Ebola-affected district in Sierra Leone (Kenema), we assessed (a) average yearly IPC compliance (2016–2018) using a National IPC assessment tool in the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/6/2/89 |
| _version_ | 1827691464634662912 |
|---|---|
| author | James Sylvester Squire Imurana Conteh Arpine Abrahamya Anna Maruta Ruzanna Grigoryan Hannock Tweya Collins Timire Katrina Hann Rony Zachariah Mohamed Alex Vandi |
| author_facet | James Sylvester Squire Imurana Conteh Arpine Abrahamya Anna Maruta Ruzanna Grigoryan Hannock Tweya Collins Timire Katrina Hann Rony Zachariah Mohamed Alex Vandi |
| author_sort | James Sylvester Squire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: High compliance to infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital to prevent health care-associated infections. In the worst 2014–2015 Ebola-affected district in Sierra Leone (Kenema), we assessed (a) average yearly IPC compliance (2016–2018) using a National IPC assessment tool in the district hospital and peripheral health units (PHUs), and (b) gaps in IPC activities, infrastructure and consumables in 2018. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary program data. Results: At the district hospital, compliance increased from 69% in 2016 to 73% in 2018 (expected minimal threshold = 70%; desired threshold ≥ 85%). Compliance for screening/isolation facilities and decontamination of medical equipment reached 100% in 2018. The two thematic areas with the lowest compliance were sanitation (44%) and sharps safety (56%). In PHUs (2018), the minimal 70% compliance threshold was not achieved in two (of 10 thematic areas) for Community Health Centers, four for Community Health Posts, and five for Maternal and Child Health Units. The lowest compliance was for screening and isolation facilities (range: 33–53%). Conclusion: This baseline assessment is an eye opener of what is working and what is not, and can be used to galvanize political, financial, and material resources to bridge the existing gaps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:01:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a2fbcd09df347848aab5c95cf7f273e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:01:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a2fbcd09df347848aab5c95cf7f273e2023-11-21T21:26:49ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662021-05-01628910.3390/tropicalmed6020089Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola OutbreakJames Sylvester Squire0Imurana Conteh1Arpine Abrahamya2Anna Maruta3Ruzanna Grigoryan4Hannock Tweya5Collins Timire6Katrina Hann7Rony Zachariah8Mohamed Alex Vandi9Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, P.O. Box 529 Freetown, Sierra LeoneDirectorate of Health Security and Emergencies, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, P.O. Box 529 Freetown, Sierra LeoneTB Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan 0014, ArmeniaWorld Health Organization, P.O. Box 529 Freetown, Sierra LeoneTB Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan 0014, ArmeniaThe International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 75000 Paris, FranceThe International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 75000 Paris, FranceSustainable Health Systems, P.O. Box 529 Freetown, Sierra LeoneUNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, WHO, Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, SwitzerlandDirectorate of Health Security and Emergencies, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, P.O. Box 529 Freetown, Sierra LeoneBackground: High compliance to infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital to prevent health care-associated infections. In the worst 2014–2015 Ebola-affected district in Sierra Leone (Kenema), we assessed (a) average yearly IPC compliance (2016–2018) using a National IPC assessment tool in the district hospital and peripheral health units (PHUs), and (b) gaps in IPC activities, infrastructure and consumables in 2018. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary program data. Results: At the district hospital, compliance increased from 69% in 2016 to 73% in 2018 (expected minimal threshold = 70%; desired threshold ≥ 85%). Compliance for screening/isolation facilities and decontamination of medical equipment reached 100% in 2018. The two thematic areas with the lowest compliance were sanitation (44%) and sharps safety (56%). In PHUs (2018), the minimal 70% compliance threshold was not achieved in two (of 10 thematic areas) for Community Health Centers, four for Community Health Posts, and five for Maternal and Child Health Units. The lowest compliance was for screening and isolation facilities (range: 33–53%). Conclusion: This baseline assessment is an eye opener of what is working and what is not, and can be used to galvanize political, financial, and material resources to bridge the existing gaps.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/6/2/89SORT IT (Structured Operational Research Training Initiative)operational researchantimicrobial resistancesustainable development goalsIPCAF |
| spellingShingle | James Sylvester Squire Imurana Conteh Arpine Abrahamya Anna Maruta Ruzanna Grigoryan Hannock Tweya Collins Timire Katrina Hann Rony Zachariah Mohamed Alex Vandi Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease SORT IT (Structured Operational Research Training Initiative) operational research antimicrobial resistance sustainable development goals IPCAF |
| title | Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak |
| title_full | Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak |
| title_fullStr | Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak |
| title_short | Gaps in Infection Prevention and Control in Public Health Facilities of Sierra Leone after the 2014–2015 Ebola Outbreak |
| title_sort | gaps in infection prevention and control in public health facilities of sierra leone after the 2014 2015 ebola outbreak |
| topic | SORT IT (Structured Operational Research Training Initiative) operational research antimicrobial resistance sustainable development goals IPCAF |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/6/2/89 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamessylvestersquire gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT imuranaconteh gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT arpineabrahamya gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT annamaruta gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT ruzannagrigoryan gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT hannocktweya gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT collinstimire gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT katrinahann gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT ronyzachariah gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak AT mohamedalexvandi gapsininfectionpreventionandcontrolinpublichealthfacilitiesofsierraleoneafterthe20142015ebolaoutbreak |