The Impact of Infection Control Systems on Enhancing Infection Prevention in Healthcare Facilities
Published 2025-01-10
Keywords
- Health Electronic Surveillance Network, HESN, Digital Health, Infection Prevention, Joint Commission International, Ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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Abstract
Introduction: Infections acquired during healthcare (HAIs) are an increasingly significant risk for both patient safety and the healthcare sector's long-term viability within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 (“KSA Vision 2030”), the Kingdom has moved from manually monitoring HAIs to using a cohesive national infection control system that incorporates HESN and meets CBAHI accreditation standards.
Objective: This research aims to evaluate how integrated Infection Control (IC) systems can reduce HAIs (Healthcare-Acquired Infections) in Saudi Arabia’s hospitals and the effect of Standardized IC Systems (CBAHI accreditation and HESN) on the rate of HCIRs (major HAIs) in all Saudi Arabia’s hospitals.
Method: The authors conducted a systematic search across four major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Saudi Digital Library) for studies published alluding to electronic surveillance, national accreditation and standardized bundles of IPC in the KSA from 2016 through 206. To conduct the search, the authors followed the PRISMA guidelines, identifying only articles that provided information on the use of electronic surveillance, the use of a nationally accredited system of healthcare facilities, or standardized IPC bundles in the KSA. Specifically, the authors evaluated the following process and outcome measures: incidence density rates for CLABSI, CAUTI, VAP and SSI; and process measures such as hand hygiene compliance.
Conclusion: In conclusion, infection control interventions across the KSA have substantially decreased the burden of HAIs by modelling best practice in safety through the use of information technology and accreditation systems. Given the current extent of nation-wide implementation of these systems, the next step would be to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural locations while exploring how Artificial Intelligence can be used to facilitate predictive rather than reactive methods for infection prevention.