Lesson learned from the pandemic: Isolation and hygiene measures for COVID-19 could reduce the nosocomial infection rates in oncology wards

Abstract

Introduction It was previously demonstrated that seasonal influenza incidence was significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly due to respiratory and hygiene precautions. From this point, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 precautions could lead to a decrease in nosocomial infection rates in oncology inpatient wards. Methods We evaluated the nosocomial infection rates in an inpatient palliative oncology ward in the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country and compared this rate with the same time frame of the previous year in our institution. Results The percentage of nosocomial infections complicating the hospitalization episodes were significantly reduced in the first 3 months of the pandemic compared to the previous year (43 vs. 55 nosocomial infection episodes; 18.6% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.002). The decrease in the nosocomial infections was consistent in the different types of infections, namely pneumonia (4.8% vs. 7.6%), urinary tract infection (5.2% vs. 7.6%), bacteremia (5.2% vs. 7%) and intraabdominal infections (2.6% vs. 3.5%). The median monthly disinfectant use was significantly increased to 98 liters (interquartile range: 82 – 114) in 2020 compared to 72 L (interquartile range: 36 – 72) in 2019 ( p = 0.046). Conclusion The continuation of the simple and feasible hygiene and distancing measures for healthcare workers and patient relatives and adaptations for earlier discharge could be beneficial for preventing nosocomial infections in oncology wards. These measures could be implemented routinely even after the COVID-19 pandemic for patient safety, especially in settings with higher nosocomial infection rates like inpatients palliative care units.

Interventions to Improve Patient Safety During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

“…Studies described nurse-led quality initiatives in the form of nurse-led toolkits 52,53 , a multidisciplinary stakeholder team 53 , and a training model 54 . One study also described using respiratory hygiene procedures like those used during influenza epidemics to reduce COVID-19 transmission 49 . Bundling technology together with education was evaluated to reduce central line-associated blood stream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections 55 .…”

“…There were 42 studies that assessed the use of various modified procedures across all safety domains. Many of these studies also described other intervention themes, such as the use of modified safety checklists 35 , care pathways 17,25,42 , environmental modification 64 , and changes in procedures and hygiene practices 49,51 . One study evaluated management of pharmaceutical interventions and added pharmacists to the team to reduce medication errors 65 .…”

“…Seven studies used educational interventions in four safety domains. Education on hygiene and distancing measures 49 , staff education regarding new or adapted protocols 27 , and team development 57,60,62 were most common.…”

“…The use of telemedicine was not as prevalent as expected in this literature, with only 10 studies explicitly utilizing telemedicine to improve safety in three domains. These primarily incorporated modified procedures 19,20,49 , novel pathways 24,42,50 , and patient management 27,63 following adaptations to procedures. Thus, the lack of new interventions may not be surprising, with authors and experts recommending instead an emphasis on complying with existing evidence-based practices.…”

A COVID-19 Silver Lining—Decline in Antibiotic Resistance in Ischemic Leg Ulcers during the Pandemic: A 6-Year Retrospective Study from a Regional Tertiary Hospital (2017–2022)

“…Another meta-analysis of 23 studies yielded inconclusive results [15], but there have been reports of increased antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic [16,17]. In contrast, several studies have reported reductions in antibiotic-resistance prevalence during the pandemic [18][19][20]. The uncertainties regarding COVID-19 diagnosis and concerns over bacterial co-infections or secondary infections likely underpinned substantial but inappropriate prescription of antibiotics [15].…”