Finding the gaps: An assessment of infection control surveillance needs in British Columbia acute care facilities
published online 23 October 2008.
Background
This paper reports on an infection prevention and control surveillance survey of acute care facilities (ACFs) performed by the Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia.
Methods
A surveillance questionnaire was sent to all health care facilities that had access to an infection control professional. The questionnaire incorporated questions on organism-specific, disease-specific, and general surveillance activities.
Results
Questionnaires were returned from 47 of 51 (92%) of the ACFs surveyed. Participation in surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci-, and Clostridium difficile-associated disease ranged from 97% to 100%, but surveillance methodologies were inconsistent. Surgical-site infection surveillance did not correlate with the most commonly performed operations or with those procedures associated with higher morbidity and mortality from a postoperative infection. Considerable variation in data collection methods and case definitions was also identified. Surveillance for urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia was present in 28%, 51%, and 23% of responding ACFs, respectively.
Conclusion
The current lack of a standardized surveillance system in British Columbia limits the ability of facilities to set appropriate benchmarks to assist in prioritizing and applying infection control interventions. The survey, however, has assisted in prioritizing implementation of surveillance activities and identifying the resources that would be required.
aProvincial Infection Control Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
bVancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Address correspondence to Bruce Gamage, RN, BSN, CIC, Network Manager, Provincial Infection Control Network, 655 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4.
PICNet Needs Assessment Working Group: Joanne Archer, Heather Blaus, Ian Connell, Fern Davey, Nicki Gill, Janice DeHeer, Jacqueline Hlagi, Betty Johnson, James Lu, Shelley Myatovic, Sue Pollock, Diane Roscoe, Gayle Shimokura, Annalee Yassi.
Conflicts of interest: None of the authors received any financial or material support from any organization that may either gain or lose financially from the results or conclusions of this study. None of the authors received any financial support from a manufacturer or were given any product free of charge.
ABSTRACT