Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi

Background: Guidelines for radiographers contain recommendations related to standard infection control precautions for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) which are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in hospital settings. However, the implementation of these recommendations has proven to b...

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Main Authors: Denis Nyirenda, Razana Williams, Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: AOSIS 2019-03-01
Series:Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/1035
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author Denis Nyirenda
Razana Williams
Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi
author_facet Denis Nyirenda
Razana Williams
Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi
author_sort Denis Nyirenda
collection DOAJ
description Background: Guidelines for radiographers contain recommendations related to standard infection control precautions for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) which are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in hospital settings. However, the implementation of these recommendations has proven to be a challenge in the Malawian radiology departments, as there are no national guidelines or radiology policies for infection control. Aim: This article outlines the development of infection control recommendations that could facilitate sound knowledge and practices of radiographers regarding infection control. Setting: Radiology departments in hospitals in Malawi. Methods: The recommendations were developed based on data from a questionnaire that measured the knowledge and practices of 62 radiographers regarding infection control as well as data from the literature. The Florence Nightingale environmental theory was used as the conceptual framework for the recommendations, while its development was based on steps of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. For the format of the draft recommendations, an adapted version of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool was used. Results: Issues identified from the responses to the questionnaire and literature resulted in seven sets of recommendations: hand hygiene, personal hygiene, personal protective gear and the use of appropriate equipment, safe handling of sharps and sharp containers, decontamination and cleaning, housekeeping and routine infection control practices. Conclusions: The recommendations can be further reviewed and implemented to improve the implementation of infection control and to reduce HAIs in resource-constrained settings.
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spelling doaj.art-2b067b8fd9cd4c35a2e648467065d8742022-12-21T17:56:28ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362019-03-01240e1e610.4102/hsag.v24i0.1035738Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in MalawiDenis Nyirenda0Razana Williams1Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi2Department of Radiography, Malawi College of Health Science, LilongweDepartment of Radiography, Nelson Mandela University, Port ElizabethFaculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port ElizabethBackground: Guidelines for radiographers contain recommendations related to standard infection control precautions for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) which are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in hospital settings. However, the implementation of these recommendations has proven to be a challenge in the Malawian radiology departments, as there are no national guidelines or radiology policies for infection control. Aim: This article outlines the development of infection control recommendations that could facilitate sound knowledge and practices of radiographers regarding infection control. Setting: Radiology departments in hospitals in Malawi. Methods: The recommendations were developed based on data from a questionnaire that measured the knowledge and practices of 62 radiographers regarding infection control as well as data from the literature. The Florence Nightingale environmental theory was used as the conceptual framework for the recommendations, while its development was based on steps of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. For the format of the draft recommendations, an adapted version of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool was used. Results: Issues identified from the responses to the questionnaire and literature resulted in seven sets of recommendations: hand hygiene, personal hygiene, personal protective gear and the use of appropriate equipment, safe handling of sharps and sharp containers, decontamination and cleaning, housekeeping and routine infection control practices. Conclusions: The recommendations can be further reviewed and implemented to improve the implementation of infection control and to reduce HAIs in resource-constrained settings.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/1035healthcare-associated infectionsinfection controlradiographerrecommendationsMalawi
spellingShingle Denis Nyirenda
Razana Williams
Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi
Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
healthcare-associated infections
infection control
radiographer
recommendations
Malawi
title Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
title_full Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
title_fullStr Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
title_short Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
title_sort infection control recommendations for radiology departments in malawi
topic healthcare-associated infections
infection control
radiographer
recommendations
Malawi
url https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/1035
work_keys_str_mv AT denisnyirenda infectioncontrolrecommendationsforradiologydepartmentsinmalawi
AT razanawilliams infectioncontrolrecommendationsforradiologydepartmentsinmalawi
AT wilmatenhambaloyi infectioncontrolrecommendationsforradiologydepartmentsinmalawi