Unnecessary hospital infection control practices in Thailand: a survey

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 55 - 59
• Main Authors: Kunaratanapruk, S., Silpapojakul, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.09.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cost reduction; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Disinfectants - therapeutic use; General aspects; hospital-acquired infection; Humans; infection control practices; Medical sciences; Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Surgical Wound Infection - prevention & control; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand; Tropical medicine; Thailand; Asia; hospital-acquired infection; infection control practices; Cost reduction; Nosocomial infection; Costs; Temperature; Prevalence; Hospital management; Disinfection; Method; Epidemiology; Intensive care unit; Prevention; Health economy; Operating room; Isolation; Hospital; Public health
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1016/S0195-6701(98)90025-1

The high prevalence of hospital-acquired infection has a significant impact on the operating cost of hospitals in Thailand. A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted to determine how frequently unnecessary infection control procedures were performed. Nearly 17% of hospitals routinely cleaned floors with disinfectants; 48% installed ultraviolet lights in the operating room; 57% performed routine environmental cultures; 68% reported fogging of the operating theatres and the isolation rooms; wearing a protective gown in the intensive care units was routine in 57% of the surveyed hospitals; 30% of hospital laundries set temperatures unnecessarily high and sterile gloves were overused in 25% of hospitals. Large cost reduction can be achieved by discontinuing these practices.