Developing a ward accreditation scheme to improve infection control practice

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement
• Infection prevention and control
• Hospital administration

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat in acute care settings.
• Variations in clinical practices can contribute to the spread of infections like MRSA.
• Standardized protocols are crucial for effective infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a ward accreditation scheme to reduce HAIs.
• To address and standardize practices across inpatient wards.
• To measure the impact of the scheme on infection rates, specifically MRSA.

Main Methods:

• Development and rollout of a ward accreditation program in an acute trust.
• Application of the scheme across all inpatient wards.
• Monitoring and auditing of clinical practices and infection data.

Main Results:

• Initial implementation revealed significant variations in ward practices.
• Standardization of practices was achieved through the accreditation scheme.
• A 35.6% reduction in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was observed over 12 months.

Conclusions:

• Ward accreditation schemes are effective tools for tackling HAIs.
• Standardization and regular auditing are key to reducing infection rates.
• The developed scheme demonstrated a measurable positive impact on patient safety and infection control.