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Gon G, Kabanywanyi AM, Blinkhoff P, Cousens S, Dancer SJ, Graham WJ, Hokororo J, Manzi F, Marchant T, Mkoka D, Morrison E, Mswata S, Oza S, Penn-Kekana L, Sedekia Y, Virgo S, Woodd S, Aiken AM. The Clean pilot study: evaluation of an environmental hygiene intervention bundle in three Tanzanian hospitals. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2021; 10:8. [PMID: 33413647 PMCID: PMC7789081 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-020-00866-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are estimated to affect up to 15% of hospital inpatients in low-income countries (LICs). A critical but often neglected aspect of HAI prevention is basic environmental hygiene, particularly surface cleaning and linen management. TEACH CLEAN is an educational intervention aimed at improving environmental hygiene. We evaluated the effectiveness of this intervention in a pilot study in three high-volume maternity and newborn units in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS This study design prospectively evaluated the intervention as a whole, and offered a before-and-after comparison of the impact of the main training. We measured changes in microbiological cleanliness [Aerobic Colony Counts (ACC) and presence of Staphylococcus aureus] using dipslides, and physical cleaning action using gel dots. These were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. We used qualitative (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and semi-structured observation) and quantitative (observation checklist) tools to measure why and how the intervention worked. We describe these findings across the themes of adaptation, fidelity, dose, reach and context. RESULTS Microbiological cleanliness improved during the study period (ACC pre-training: 19%; post-training: 41%). The odds of cleanliness increased on average by 1.33 weekly during the pre-training period (CI = 1.11-1.60), and by 1.08 (CI = 1.03-1.13) during the post-training period. Cleaning action improved only in the pre-training period. Detection of S. aureus on hospital surfaces did not change substantially. The intervention was well received and considered feasible in this context. The major pitfalls in the implementation were the limited number of training sessions at the hospital level and the lack of supportive supervision. A systems barrier to implementation was lack of regular cleaning supplies. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation suggests that improvements in microbiological cleanliness are possible using this intervention and can be sustained. Improved microbiological cleanliness is a key step on the pathway to infection prevention in hospitals. Future research should assess whether this bundle is cost-effective in reducing bacterial and viral transmission and infection using a rigorous study design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Gon
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | | | - Petri Blinkhoff
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Simon Cousens
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stephanie J Dancer
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Microbiology, Hairmyres Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Wendy J Graham
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joseph Hokororo
- Ministry of Health Community Development Gender Elderly and Children, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fatuma Manzi
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Tanya Marchant
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dickson Mkoka
- School of Nursing, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Sarah Mswata
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Shefali Oza
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Loveday Penn-Kekana
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | - Susannah Woodd
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alexander M Aiken
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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