Planning and executing a national point prevalence study: a blueprint for the future.

Area of Science:

• Infection Prevention and Control
• Public Health Surveillance
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose significant risks to patients and strain health systems.
• Understanding the prevalence of HAIs is crucial for effective infection control strategies.
• A national approach is needed to comprehensively assess HAI burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the methodology and process of conducting a national Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) in New Zealand.
• To provide a detailed account of the stages involved in planning, executing, and analyzing a national HAI survey.
• To offer a replicable strategy for health organizations undertaking similar disease surveillance initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A national HAI Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) was conducted across all 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand.
• Key project stages included planning, communication, piloting, surveyor training, survey delivery, and data analysis.
• National-level support from clinical and non-clinical management was secured.

Main Results:

• The study successfully executed a national HAI PPS, gathering data on infection prevalence.
• The detailed process description serves as a guide for future surveillance efforts.
• The methodology can be adapted for studying the epidemiology of various diseases.

Conclusions:

• The national HAI PPS provided valuable insights into infection prevalence within New Zealand's health system.
• The documented process offers a robust framework for other health systems planning similar surveys.
• This approach supports better understanding of local disease epidemiology and informs public health strategies.