[INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL BY AN INFECTION CONTROL TEAM].

Area of Science:

• Hospital Infection Control
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings.
• The overuse and misuse of antibiotics drive the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms.
• A coordinated approach is essential to combat AMR within hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a multifaceted strategy for reducing antimicrobial resistance in hospitals.
• To highlight the role of antimicrobial stewardship programs in managing antibiotic usage.
• To emphasize the importance of infection control measures in preventing the transmission of MDR organisms.

Main Methods:

• Implementing a four-pronged strategy: infection prevention, prompt diagnosis and treatment, prudent antimicrobial use, and transmission prevention.
• Establishing an antimicrobial stewardship program involving physicians and pharmacists for heterogeneous antibiotic usage.
• Enforcing standard and transmission-based precautions by infection control nurses.
• Developing a surveillance system for MDR organisms by laboratory personnel.
• Adopting a multidisciplinary approach for infectious outbreaks.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in the isolation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms were observed.
• Hospital-wide heterogeneous antibiotic usage was facilitated by the stewardship program.
• Outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections were successfully controlled with administrative support.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive, multifaceted approach is crucial for reducing antimicrobial resistance in hospitals.
• Antimicrobial stewardship programs are effective in controlling antibiotic usage and reducing MDR organism isolation.
• Vigilant infection control and surveillance are vital for preventing the transmission and managing outbreaks of MDR organisms.