This and much more was discussed at the international congress “Modern means of disinfection and sterilization in the prevention of infections associated with the provision of medical care”, which was held in Moscow from November 6 to 7, 2014. The Congress was organized under the auspices of Rospotrebnadzor in conjunction with Research Institute of Disinfectology Rospotrebnadzor.
At the congress, various aspects of epidemiology and infection control were discussed, in particular, modern international methods for the prevention and control of infections associated with the provision of medical care were in focus. In light of the recent mass outbreaks of infectious diseases caused by the Ebola virus, coronaviruses, etc., this event has become especially relevant this year.
Presentations were made by recognized international and Russian experts in the field of disinfection and epidemiology, representatives of Rospotrebnadzor, as well as key specialists from leading specialized research institutes of the Russian Federation. The invited guests at the event were professors from Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium and Italy. In particular, the doctor of medicine, the director of the Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the University of Greifswald (Germany), professor Axel Kramer, and the doctor of medicine Sci., Head of the Department of Hygiene and Clinical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Consultant on Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Vienna Central Hospital (Austria i), President of the Austrian Society for Infection Control, Professor Oyan Assadian. In his report, Professor Kramer noted the important role of hand disinfection in infection control. According to Professor Kramer, the most effective way to hygienically treat your hands is to use an alcoholic skin antiseptic. “About 90% of nosocomial infections can be stopped by using "He notes. - Compared to ordinary hand washing or washing hands with antibacterial soap, alcohol antiseptic agents are more effective against a wide range of microorganisms, and their use significantly reduces the time of hand treatment, thus increasing the level of adherence to this procedure. In addition, skin antiseptics have a significantly less irritating effect on the skin than soap. ”
In the course of the report, Professor Kramer presented his study of methods for improving the compliance (adherence to the procedure) of hand hygiene at the University of Greifswald. According to the results of the study, it was found that to increase compliance it is necessary to provide a sufficient number of dispensers for hygienic processing of hands. For instance, should be placed at the patient’s bed, in front of the entrance and exit of the ward, on carts, in toilets. If it is not possible to install the dispenser in all necessary places, it is recommended to use a pocket bottle with an antiseptic. An interesting fact was that the type and color of the dispensers also affect the commitment of staff and patients to the processing of hands. So, the consumption of antiseptics increases significantly in the case of using a touch dispenser (1.8 liters per week compared to 0.15 liters when using a pressure dispenser). The yellow touch dispenser increases the weekly consumption of antiseptics to 2.65 liters.
In his speech, the professor presented another study, during which the main factors affecting the perforation of medical gloves were identified. The study showed that gloves wearing time, material, type of handling and repeated disinfection can be the main causes of gloves rupture. It was established that the use of nitrile gloves is preferable when working with infected patients, gloves must be replaced after 15 minutes of work, and gloves can be disinfected no more than 3 times within the recommended 15 minutes.
“The fact that hand hygiene is a fundamental measure to prevent nosocomial infections,” said Professor Kramer in his speech, “the ability to apply the knowledge gained in this area should spread with the speed of a forest fire, has become undeniable.”
As part of his report, Professor Oyan Assadian noted that currently insufficient attention is paid to surface disinfection in medical facilities. In support of his words, he demonstrated a study in which the level of contamination of the handrails of patients' beds before and after disinfection was determined. “After disinfection, the number of microorganisms decreased from more than 1000 KOE / 100 cm2 to 100 KOE / 100 cm2 within 35 minutes,” he said. According to Dr. Assadian, in conditions of insufficient disinfection of surfaces and objects surrounding the patient, gloves can be a reliable way to protect medical staff, but not patients. “Moreover, gloved hands carry more microorganisms than gloved hands,” the professor said.
“With the correct use of gloves, the medical officer must sanitize the hands, put on gloves, carry out the necessary manipulations with the patient, remove the gloves and sanitize the hands again. And so for each patient. But in practice, in conditions of a large flow of patients, such a sequence is difficult to achieve. Disinfection of gloves can be a solution to the problem, however, it is necessary to understand and take into account the properties of gloves and disinfectants, ”said Professor Assadian, referring to the study of Axel Kramer.
According to the professor, elastic gloves are less permeable to bacteria after disinfection than thicker and tougher gloves. This conclusion is confirmed by a study conducted by scientists from the Medical University of Vienna under the guidance of Professor Assadian.