Abstract
Introduction and background: Chikwawa District hospital maternity unit registered a total of 42 cases of post surgery infections (PSI) representing 6.4% of all cases (653) conducted in 2015. These infections contributed to three hysterectomies and one maternal death (MD). Chikwawa District Hospital implemented an eighteen months (April 2016 to August 2017) project to reduce the infections.
Study aim: The aim was to reduce the rate of the infections from 6.4% to 3.2% (50%). The project was implemented in maternity and theatre departments. It was spearheaded by a multidisciplinary taskforce committee comprising staff from maternity, theatre, pharmacy, laboratory, administration and laundry departments.
Methods: The measures employed in the project included reinforcement of infection prevention (IP) standards, ensuring availability of sterile instruments for procedures, administration of pre-operative and post-operative antibiotics, daily wound dressing and training of staff in IP standards. Other measures included development of protocols for prevention of PSI and monitoring tool for post surgery mothers to ensure early detection of infections. Mobilisation of IP equipment and supplies and regular staff meetings also contributed to the success of the project.
Results: The project reduced the rate of the infections from 6.4% to 0.8% (5 out of 603). Number of hysterectomies reduced from three to one and no MD was reported in the implementation period. For patients with longest hospital days, the length of admission reduced from 42 to 9 whilst for those with shortest stay the days reduced from 5 to 3, with most of them staying for 6 to 10 days in both periods (14 in 2015; 3 in 2016-17). The results have shown that simple measures such as following IP standards, involvement and commitment of all cadres working in maternity and theatre departments can tremendously reduce the rate of PSI. It is therefore recommended that theatre and maternity staff should work together to reduce PSI.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Maternal-Child Health, Leadership, Infection Reduction
Recommended Citation
Phuziwa, Mwasiwa; Nyirongo, Tiwonge; and Chirwa, Ellen, "Reducing post surgery infections at Chikwawa District Hospital Maternity Unit" (2018). Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership - Africa. 3.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/mchnla/2017/posters/3
Conference Name
Chi Xi at-Large Chapter First Biennial Conference Swaziland
Conference Host
Chi Xi at-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Exulwini Valley, Lobamba, Swaziland
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Faculty/Mentor Approved: Sigma Academy Participant Poster
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Reducing post surgery infections at Chikwawa District Hospital Maternity Unit
Exulwini Valley, Lobamba, Swaziland
Introduction and background: Chikwawa District hospital maternity unit registered a total of 42 cases of post surgery infections (PSI) representing 6.4% of all cases (653) conducted in 2015. These infections contributed to three hysterectomies and one maternal death (MD). Chikwawa District Hospital implemented an eighteen months (April 2016 to August 2017) project to reduce the infections.
Study aim: The aim was to reduce the rate of the infections from 6.4% to 3.2% (50%). The project was implemented in maternity and theatre departments. It was spearheaded by a multidisciplinary taskforce committee comprising staff from maternity, theatre, pharmacy, laboratory, administration and laundry departments.
Methods: The measures employed in the project included reinforcement of infection prevention (IP) standards, ensuring availability of sterile instruments for procedures, administration of pre-operative and post-operative antibiotics, daily wound dressing and training of staff in IP standards. Other measures included development of protocols for prevention of PSI and monitoring tool for post surgery mothers to ensure early detection of infections. Mobilisation of IP equipment and supplies and regular staff meetings also contributed to the success of the project.
Results: The project reduced the rate of the infections from 6.4% to 0.8% (5 out of 603). Number of hysterectomies reduced from three to one and no MD was reported in the implementation period. For patients with longest hospital days, the length of admission reduced from 42 to 9 whilst for those with shortest stay the days reduced from 5 to 3, with most of them staying for 6 to 10 days in both periods (14 in 2015; 3 in 2016-17). The results have shown that simple measures such as following IP standards, involvement and commitment of all cadres working in maternity and theatre departments can tremendously reduce the rate of PSI. It is therefore recommended that theatre and maternity staff should work together to reduce PSI.
Description
This poster is the summation of a project undertake as part of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy (2016-2017 cohort).