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Disinfection: gaps between recommended and actual practice
K C Keah1, M Jegathesan, S C Tan
1Pathology Department, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Selangor, Malaysia.
The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Hospital disinfection practices improved significantly after an intervention, with fewer errors in disinfectant use and container cleaning. Comprehensive training is recommended for healthcare staff to maintain these gains.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare-associated infection control
- Hospital hygiene and safety
Background:
- Basic disinfection practices are crucial for preventing infections in hospitals.
- Inconsistent adherence to disinfection protocols can lead to suboptimal patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of an intervention on improving disinfection practices in hospitals.
- To identify specific areas of non-compliance and evaluate changes post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- A pre- and post-intervention survey was conducted in 6 hospitals.
- Data collection involved observation checklists and staff interviews.
- Disinfectant in-use tests were performed to assess efficacy.
Main Results:
- Availability of Ministry of Health disinfection and sterilization policies increased significantly post-intervention (87% vs. 30%).
- Proper disinfectant container cleaning rose from 41.5% to 100%.
- Failure rate of disinfectant in-use tests decreased from 11.6% to 5.0%.
Conclusions:
- The intervention led to considerable improvements in hospital disinfection practices.
- Despite improvements, challenges remain, including improper disinfectant dilution and storage.
- Comprehensive training programs are essential for nurses and attendants to ensure sustained proper disinfection.