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Infection control recommendations for radiology departments in Malawi
Denis Nyirenda1, Razana Williams2, Wilma Ten Ham-Baloyi3
1Department of Radiography, Malawi College of Health Science, Lilongwe, 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 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.
Keywords:
healthcare-associated infections; infection control; radiographer; recommendations; Malawi.
Insights
New infection control recommendations were developed for radiographers in Malawi to combat healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These guidelines address key areas like hand hygiene and protective gear to improve radiographer practices.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Infection Control
- Public Health
Background:
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitals.
- Implementation of standard infection control precautions is challenging in Malawian radiology departments due to a lack of national guidelines.
- Radiographers play a crucial role in preventing HAIs within healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop evidence-based infection control recommendations for radiographers in Malawi.
- To enhance radiographers' knowledge and practices regarding infection control.
- To provide a framework for improving infection control in resource-constrained radiology departments.
Main Methods:
- Data collection through a questionnaire assessing knowledge and practices of 62 radiographers.
- Literature review to inform recommendation development.
- Utilized Florence Nightingale's environmental theory as a conceptual framework.
- Adapted Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool for guideline format.
Main Results:
- Seven key areas for recommendations were identified: hand hygiene, personal hygiene, personal protective equipment, safe sharps handling, decontamination, cleaning, and housekeeping.
- The recommendations address critical aspects of infection prevention relevant to radiographers.
- Identified gaps in current knowledge and practices among Malawian radiographers.
Conclusions:
- The developed recommendations can significantly improve infection control practices among radiographers.
- Implementation of these guidelines can contribute to reducing the incidence of HAIs in Malawi.
- These recommendations offer a scalable model for resource-constrained settings.
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