Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Mar 5;11(3):e044971.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044971.

Infection control teams for reducing healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings: a protocol for systematic review

Moe Moe Thandar  1 , Sadatoshi Matsuoka  2 , Obaidur Rahman  3   4 , Erika Ota  3 , Toshiaki Baba  1
Affiliations

Infection control teams for reducing healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings: a protocol for systematic review

Moe Moe Thandar et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a worldwide problem. Infection control in hospitals is usually implemented by an infection control team (ICT). Initially, ICTs consisted of doctors, nurses, epidemiologists and microbiologists; then, in the 1980s, the infection control link nurse (ICLN) system was introduced. ICTs (with or without the ICLN system) work to ensure the health and well-being of patients and healthcare professionals in hospitals and other healthcare settings, such as acute care clinics, community health centres and care homes. No previous study has reported the effects of ICTs on HCAIs. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of ICTs with or without the ICLN system in reducing HCAIs in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Methods and analysis: We will perform a comprehensive literature search for randomised controlled trials in four databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library. The primary outcomes are: patient-based/clinical outcomes (rate of HCAIs, death due to HCAIs and length of hospital stay) and staff-based/behavioural outcomes (compliance with infection control practices). The secondary outcomes include the costs to the healthcare system or patients due to extended lengths of stay. Following data extraction, we will assess the risk of bias by using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care risk of bias tool. If data can be pooled across all the studies, we will perform a meta-analysis.

Ethics and dissemination: We will use publicly available data, and therefore, ethical approval is not required for this systematic review. The findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number: CRD42020172173.

Keywords: education & training (see medical education & training); health & safety; infection control.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The institution that employs MMT, SM and TB is due to receive funding from NIPRO pharmaceuticals (manufacturer of generic antimicrobial interventions) for consultation for tuberculosis diagnostic development. None of the authors of this review were involved in the consultation. The authors have not and will not benefit financially directly or indirectly from the funds. None of the authors have access to or control of NIPRO funds. The employer of MMT, SM and TB also received a fee from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to provide trainings on antimicrobial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries. NIPRO and JICA have had no input into the design of the protocol or this research.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Members of ICTs and their roles in infection control.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. WHO . Report on the burden of endemic health care-associated infection worldwide. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2011.
    1. Graves N, Weinhold D, Tong E, et al. . Effect of healthcare-acquired infection on length of hospital stay and cost. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2007;28:280–92. 10.1086/512642 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Flodgren G, Conterno LO, Mayhew A, et al. . Interventions to improve professional adherence to guidelines for prevention of device-related infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;3:CD006559. 10.1002/14651858.CD006559.pub2 - DOI - PubMed
    1. WHO . Guidelines on core components of infection prevention and control programmes at the National and acute health care facility level. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2016. - PubMed
    1. WHO . How to prevent sepsis. In: communities IHtps-trycpihca, ed. save lives: clean your hands 5 may 2018: World Health organization. Geneva: WHO, 2018.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources