International Infection Prevention Week

Make Your Intention Infection Prevention

By Marian Moraa

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Unit continues to work round the clock in playing the crucial role of keeping healthcare workers, patients and their families safe from hospital acquired infections. In addition to fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IPC coordinators educate us on ways to protect ourselves from surges in healthcare associated infections, measles outbreaks, flu season, and other day-to-day infectious battles.

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) aims to shine a light on infection prevention each and every year. This year’s theme is “Make Your Intention Infection Prevention”. The goal is to highlight the science behind infection prevention and inspiring the next generation to join the fight. Intention is a mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out an action or actions in the future. This theme is a rallying call to all stakeholders including healthcare workers, patients, families and policy makers to embrace a culture of ensuring safety during healthcare delivery and reduce the risk of harm due to unavoidable infections.

On Monday 18th October, 2021, KNH IPC Unit launched a ceremony to join the rest of the world in marking the week. The event saw a number of healthcare officers from various departments celebrate the efforts they put in observing the standard infection prevention protocols within and outside the hospital environment. It was also an opportunity to learn and practice on areas that require improvement.

Reading a speech on behalf of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who was also the event’s Guest of honor-Dr. John Kinuthia (Deputy Director Medical Research) noted that the hospital management is committed to ensuring that infection prevention and control supplies are available at every point of care. “We have also collaborated with partners to ensure that hand washing stations are available and accessible to all our visitors to the hospital,” he continued.

“As healthcare providers we all have a role to play to ensure we are practicing Infection prevention and control. Some strategies for preventing HAIs include hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, screening patients, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, contact precautions, droplet precautions, airborne precautions, following guidelines and embracing a safety culture. These strategies cut across all aspects of patient care and it’s our duty to understand the guidelines put in place and adhere to them.

This calls for us all to be alert of the risks and the gaps that exist in our provision of services and make all efforts to reduce them” stated Dr. Kinuthia.

“It is important to note that IPC precautions do not stop during this week. These practices should always be observed to ensure we are all protected. Patients and their families should also be keen to ensure their caregivers are IPC adherent while serving them” Dr. Rosaline Kinuthia Head of Unit IPC urged the audience.

In a colorful cake cutting ceremony, IPC champions from wards 10D, Clinic 24 and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) emerged as the Winner, First Runners Up and Second Runners Up respectively. Ward 6C was also recognized as the most improved from their performance on the previous year. They were awarded trophies and certificates for their outstanding efforts in observing IPC precautions.

Throughout the Week, the IPC team engaged in a series of patient and staff sensitizations aimed at promoting the adherence to infection control standards and building the hospital’s ability to prevent and control these types of avoidable infections.

As a hospital, KNH is placed at the apex of healthcare systems in Kenya and aims to show the way in an effort to reduce Hospital acquired Infections (HAIs). This has been possible through the Infection Prevention and Control Unit which has continually delivered on their mandate to help reduce Hospital Acquired Infections by promoting adherence to IPC standard precautions and building capacity on IPC practices in the hospital.

Infection Prevention and control (IPC) is a practical, evidence-based approach which prevents patients and health care workers from being harmed by avoidable infections as a result of antimicrobial resistance. Ideally, no patient should contract an infection while receiving healthcare. IPC contributes to patient safety and overall clinical outcomes by reducing these risks.

Happy Infection Prevention Week- Make Your Intention Infection Prevention!

MAIN PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA Dr. Rosaline Kinuthia Head of UnitInfection Prevention and Control awards KPPC 9C Critical Care Unit (CCU) a certificate for winning this year’s IPC trophy after being named the best performing Unit in Hand Hygiene Adherence in line with IPC procedures