Process surveillance: auditing infection control policies and procedures

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Effective infection control policies are crucial in university hospitals to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
• Regular auditing is essential to ensure adherence to established infection control protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, implement, and evaluate a program for auditing infection control policies in a university hospital setting.
• To assess the effectiveness of a surveillance program in monitoring compliance with infection control practices.

Main Methods:

• Utilized process surveillance techniques, including direct observation and monitoring.
• Conducted surveys across patient care areas to evaluate infection control practices.
• Completed nineteen unit surveys over a two-year period.

Main Results:

• The developed program was successfully implemented and evaluated.
• Analysis confirmed the program's effectiveness in identifying compliance levels.
• Nineteen unit surveys provided comprehensive data on infection control practices.

Conclusions:

• The infection control audit program is an effective tool for determining compliance.
• Continuous monitoring and auditing enhance the implementation of infection control policies.
• This program contributes to maintaining a safe patient care environment.