Failure mode and effects analysis-based strategies for controlling multidrug-resistant organism infections in cancer

Chunlin Wu1, Qingqing Tian1, Hui Wang1

  • 1The Department of Hospital Infection Control and Public Health, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.

Scientific Reports
|November 18, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) significantly reduced hospital-acquired infections and multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections in postoperative cancer patients. This systematic approach proves effective for infection control in high-risk surgical settings.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Postoperative infections, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), pose a significant clinical challenge for cancer patients undergoing surgery.
  • Proactive strategies are crucial to mitigate the risks associated with hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) in preventing and controlling MDRO infections in postoperative cancer patients.
  • To assess the impact of FMEA-based interventions on overall hospital infection rates and specific MDRO infection rates.

Main Methods:

  • A Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) was conducted in a tertiary cancer specialty hospital to identify infection risks.
  • Intervention measures were implemented targeting high- and medium-high-risk factors identified by FMEA.
  • Hospital infection data from 2017-2019 (control) and 2020-2022 (intervention) were analyzed using chi-square tests.

Main Results:

  • Hospital infection incidence decreased from 1.66% (pre-intervention) to 1.22% (post-intervention), a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.001).
  • MDRO infection incidence significantly decreased from 1.808‰ to 1.136‰ (P = 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is an effective method for preventing and controlling multidrug-resistant organism infections in postoperative cancer patients.
  • The FMEA approach demonstrates practical value and warrants widespread adoption, particularly in the context of global health challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

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