A management model for Hospital Hygiene Unit: evidence-based proactive surveillance of potential environmental sources of infection in order to prevent patient's risk

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to describe a proactive surveillance system of food, water and environmental surfaces, in order to avoid Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) from hospital environment.

METHODS

It is a retrospective descriptive study. The surveillance system consists of two integrated phases: pre-analytic and post-analytic. The activities are distinguished in ordinary control activities, performed after scheduled and shared surveys, and compliance activities, performed when it is necessary to establish the adequacy of the destination use, for example opening a new ward.

RESULTS

A total of 1,470 Samples were collected and 539 Reports were generated across the five-year study period. Water for human consumption procedure: a statistically significant trend was found only in the total number of Samples collected (p < 0.001). Legionella spp. infection water risk procedure: all Samples and Reports, with the exception of Compliance Report Samples, showed a statistically significant trend (p < 0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa water risk procedure: only Ordinary Reports and Compliance Report Samples trend were statistically significant (p = 0.002 and p = 0.028 respectively). Effectiveness of surface sanitization procedure: no trend was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Hospital catering and food surfaces procedure: Samples and Reports yearly number was constant, no trend analysis was performed. HAIs prevalence was never over 5% in the hospital under study.

CONCLUSIONS

This surveillance system of water, food and environmental surfaces represents an innovative way of approaching hospital safety for patients and personnel because it overcomes the limitations due to a classic approach limited to a laboratory analytic phase only, according to the best available scientific evidence.

Piercing and tatooing in high school students of Veneto region: prevalence and perception of infectious releated risk

INTRODUCTION

Body piercing (P) and tattoo (T) is a growing social phenomenon over recent years. Nowadays in Italy little is known about the prevalence, the attitude, the medical and social consequences of these activities. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence distribution and the attitude towards P and T and the perception of the risk for infections, in a sample of high school students living in the four Provinces of the Veneto Region (Italy).

METHODS

An anonymous, self administrate multiple-choice questionnaire about piercing and tattoo practices was distributed during the 2009-2010 academic year to a sample of randomly extracted grades to obtain information about sociodemographic characteristics, family educational level, personal attitude, prevalence and perception of the importance of the sanitary, technical and artistic competence of the operator.

RESULTS

The correctly compiled questionnaires were 2712 (95.4%). Males and females were respectively 46.2% and 53.8% (mean age 17 +/- 1.7 years). The 20.2% and the 6.4% of all the students had already experienced respectively P and T and resulted "very interested" the 46.7% to P and the 57.4% to T. Esthetical motivations are the main ones referred to use body art. The most part of interviewed subjects (81.6%) think that it is possible to have an infection, but only about 50% of students reported to know specific information about transmission of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and skin infections. The parents' educational levels do not influence the perception of the risk of infection. The majority of interviewed subjects (88.0%) prefers to undergo body art practices in a qualified center. Only the 30% of students recur to a medical help to solve problem of infection.

DISCUSSION

The piercing and tattoo prevalence rate in our study (P: 20.2% and T:6.4%) resulted similar to other Italian ones (range reported: P: 20.3-35.1%, T: 4.8-8.6%), showing an increasing trend with age. Since a high rate of interviewed students referred a substantial ignorance about the risk of transmission of body art related infectious diseases, it is suitable to promote as soon as possible among the youth educational interventions and counseling.