Continuous surveillance and sensitisation of doctors at AIIMS Trauma Centre has helped the premier he-alth institute to bring down hospital-acquired infectio-ns. According to the AIIMS director, Prof. M.C. Mishra, surveillance has also brought down the cost of antibiotics by around 20 per cent at the Trauma Centre.
Prof. Mishra said that at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, the hospital-acquired infections, like ventilator-associated pneumonia is down to 14 per 1,000 cases from 22 per 1,000 cases in 2010. “The hospital is working on improving the surveillance system. The figures have been improved for other hospital-acquired infections as well. We stress on training the healthcare workers to maintain higher hygiene levels in both the ICU and the wards,” added Prof. Mishra.
AIIMS Trauma Centre additional professor, department of microbiology, Dr Purva Mathur, said that surgical infection now ranges from one to two per cent, central line infection has come down to 1.5 in 1,000 from 10 in 1,000 in 2010. “Similarly, ICU-related infection has came down to 6.8 in 1,000 from 25 in 1,000 in when the surveillance system was started in 2010,” added Dr Mathur.
The AIIMS director said that surveillance has also helped in misuse of antibiotics at the Trauma Centre. “We have brought down the cost of antibiotics by around 20 per cent at the AIIMS Trauma Centre,” said Dr Mishra.
Prof. Mishra claimed that with lesser use of antibiotics now the patients are admitted for lesser days in the hospital and have better antibiotic resistance. “Similar system will be implemented at the AIIMS after completion of computerisation process,” he said.
According to Prof. Mishra, simple tips like frequent handwashing can also help bring down hospital-acquired infections.
