Prevention of nosocomial infections and multidrug-resistant bacteria through an initiative of patient empowerment and participation in infection control

背景本项目旨在调查积极整合患者的感染控制措施的效果，以预防医疗相关感染（HAI）和多重耐药微生物（MDRO）。患者参与是医疗保健中公认的概念。 患者积极参与感染控制。提高手卫生依从性已成为以患者为中心的感染控制措施的既定目标。我们假设，这样的干预有一个迄今为止未调查的减轻影响HAI和MRO.StudyDesignDuring十个月的控制期内的速度HAI和医院万古霉素耐药肠球菌（VRE）定植率将在骨科病房测量的蔓延。在两个月的时间内，将建立以下举措：患者将在入院时定期收到传单，告知手部卫生措施。此外，工作人员将佩戴欢迎患者的按钮，以提醒医护人员注意手部卫生习惯。将再次测量HAI和VRE定植率，并与对照期的定植率进行比较，同时干预持续10个月。如果取得了积极成果，该项目将以多中心的方式扩大，目的是开发一种可在各种医疗保健环境中应用的概念。如果结果为阴性，进一步的调查将集中在检查导致更好地接受以患者为中心的感染控制措施的因素。

BackgroundThe project aims at investigating the effects of actively integrating patients in infection control measures for the prevention of healthcare associated infections (HAI) and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Patient participation is a well recognized concept in health care. Patients are highly motivated to participate in infection control. The improvement of hand hygiene compliance has been an established goal of patient-centered infection control measures. We hypothesize that such an intervention has a heretofore uninvestigated mitigating effect on HAI and the spread of MRO.Study DesignDuring a control period of ten months the rate of HAI and nosocomial Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)-colonizations will be measured on an orthopaedic ward. During a period of two months the follwing initiave will be established: patients will regularly receive flyers upon admission that inform about hand hygiene measures. In addition, staff will wear buttons that welcome patients to remind health care personal of hand hygiene practices. HAI and VRE-colonization rates will again be measured and compared to rates in the control period while the intervention continues for ten month. In the case of a positive outcome the project will be extended in a multicenter approach with the objective of developing a concept that can be applied in various health care settings. If the outcome is negative, further investigations will concentrate on examining factors that lead to a better acceptance of patient-centered infection control measures.