An increase in executive and physician leadership and improvements in general infection prevention practices are needed to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improve patient care, according to a survey of more than 930 infection preventionists nationwide. The report of the survey, conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the Premier healthcare alliance, was released Sept. 23.
Only 15 percent of survey respondents indicated that executive and physician leadership are actively engaged and leading the charge against infections in their facilities, though 30.3 percent suggested executives and physicians are the most important resource to meet HAI challenges. When asked how HAI data are shared between infection preventionists and executives, 57.6 percent of respondents cited regular agenda discussions at board meetings, but only 15.3 percent responded that senior leadership provides feedback and recommendations.
Survey respondents cited removing unnecessary indwelling urinary catheters (55.5 percent) as the most challenging HAI prevention intervention to implement. Measuring compliance with hand hygiene practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was also identified by 35.5 percent of the respondents as a significant challenge. Read the survey summary.
