In today's world, there exists an overwhelming body of literature with respect to some of the most common causes of infection including viruses, bacteria, and fungi among others. The rising cases of virulence and pathogenicity of these infection-causing micro-organisms in healthcare facilities has led to a consistent increase in hospital -acquired infections. This review attempts to highlight the current knowledge about the role of the universal standard precaution guidelines for tackling the challenge of the rising records of nosocomial infections with respect to healthcare professionals.
In 2014, there was wide spread panic all over the west coast of Africa from Liberia to Guinea, from Nigeria to Sierra Leone as a result of the re-emergence of Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic disease. According to the Online New Telegraph report (2017) titled “Preventing re-emergence of Ebola”, the relative low knowledge of the disease in some countries (in addition to other factors) had facilitated the spread of the viral disease within these African States. More importantly, the Nigerian case may be said to be particularly unique.
In response to the call for action by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Nigerian public had quickly adopted some precautionary measures, “People used face masks, hand gloves, hand sanitizers, refused to even shake hands with or hug acquaintances and friends.” Unfortunately, it seemed that while the general public (even the least educated) had started taking measures against the contagion, a highly significant part of the population was left vulnerable. One of such grievous consequence led to the death of Dr. Stella Adadevoh (1956-2014), who had to make the ultimate sacrifice to avert a major pandemic similar to the death plague in Europe. Dr. Stella Adadevoh had correctly diagnosed the Liberian, Patrick Sawyer as the first case of Ebola at First Consultant Hospital, Lagos despite his insistence that he has a bad case of Malaria. “Dr. Adadevoh tried to create an Isolation area, despite the lack of protective equipment, by creating a wooden barricade outside Patrick Sawyer’s door.” The rest of the painful account rests in the annals of history.
Table of Contents
1 Background
2.1 Nosocomial infection
2.1.1 Types of nosocomial infections
2.1.2 Epidemiology of nosocomial diseases
2.1.3 Pre-disposing factors to nosocomial infection
2.1.4 Mode of transmission of nosocomial infections
2.2 Standard precautions and Infection Control of Hospital – Acquired infections
Standard (or Universal) Precautions
2.2.1 Components (or Methods) of Standard Precaution
2.2.2 Contributory factors that influence non-adherence to standard precaution
2.2.3 Challenges of the Standard (or Universal) Precautions
2.3 The Healthcare Institution in Nigeria and Its structure
2.4 Other Infection Control Approaches
2.5 Studies on knowledge, compliance, resource availability and barriers to standard precaution (summary of the discussion)
2.6 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Focus
This review aims to examine the role of standard (universal) precautions in preventing nosocomial infections within the Nigerian healthcare industry. The study evaluates the current knowledge, adherence levels among healthcare professionals, and the various factors—ranging from resource availability to institutional structure—that impede the effective implementation of these safety protocols.
- The epidemiological significance and transmission modes of nosocomial infections.
- The critical components and methods of standard precaution protocols.
- Barriers to compliance, including psychological, structural, and resource-related challenges.
- The impact of institutional hierarchy in the Nigerian healthcare system on infection control.
- Strategies for enhancing safety practices through education, leadership, and policy enforcement.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Nosocomial infection
The term “Nosocomial” is used for any disease acquired by patient under medical care (Krishna, 2018). It is any clinical infection that was either present or was in its incubation period when the patient entered the hospital (Nautiyal et al., 2015). It has been regarded as one of the most contributing factors affecting the patients during the hospital visit and has also become one of great cause for concern for the healthcare professionals (Nautiyal et al., 2015). Notably, it is transmitted in a clinical setting during which an incubation period follows. These infections may later enter their symptomatic phase after discharge from the hospital.
Brusaferro et al. (2015) described healthcare-associated infections as the type of infections caused by prolonged hospital stay. These infection types have been implicated as major risk factor for serious health issues which may result in mortality. Matter-of-factly, in a WHO study conducted in different parts of the world, reports indicated that in North America and Europe 5%-10% of all hospitalizations resulted in nosocomial infections, while Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia show more than 40% hospitalizations with nosocomial infections (WHO, 2013; Obiero et al., 2015). As aforementioned, countries in the sub-Saharan region are most affected by these infections.
Summary of Chapters
1 Background: This chapter contextualizes the rise of nosocomial infections, using the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa as a catalyst for discussing the vulnerability of the public and the crucial role of healthcare precautions.
2.1 Nosocomial infection: Provides definitions of hospital-acquired infections, discusses their epidemiology, and categorizes common types of infections and their transmission mechanisms in clinical settings.
2.2 Standard precautions and Infection Control of Hospital – Acquired infections: Outlines the core guidelines established by international bodies to protect healthcare workers and patients through structured safety measures.
Standard (or Universal) Precautions: Defines the fundamental principles of universal precautions as a primary mechanism to minimize the transmission of blood-borne and other pathogens.
2.2.1 Components (or Methods) of Standard Precaution: Details practical infection control methods, including hand hygiene, sterilization techniques, environmental controls, and the safe handling of sharps.
2.2.2 Contributory factors that influence non-adherence to standard precaution: Analyzes psychological and professional factors, such as leadership and education, that influence whether healthcare workers adhere to safety protocols.
2.2.3 Challenges of the Standard (or Universal) Precautions: Identifies significant barriers to compliance, including emergency pressures, lack of resources, and the perceived discomfort of protective equipment.
2.3 The Healthcare Institution in Nigeria and Its structure: Describes the three-tiered healthcare system in Nigeria and how its organizational structure impacts the delivery of infection control services.
2.4 Other Infection Control Approaches: Discusses supplementary strategies such as surveillance, data collection, and infection control programs used to support standard precautions.
2.5 Studies on knowledge, compliance, resource availability and barriers to standard precaution (summary of the discussion): Reviews existing literature and case studies regarding the knowledge-practice gap among healthcare professionals in various settings.
2.6 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced awareness and institutional improvements to optimize patient care in Nigeria.
Keywords
Nosocomial infections, Standard precautions, Universal precautions, Infection control, Healthcare-associated infections, Nigeria healthcare, Healthcare workers, Patient safety, Hand hygiene, Personal protective equipment, Occupational exposure, Medical infrastructure, Epidemiology, Microbial transmission, Adherence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the importance of standard (universal) precautions in the Nigerian healthcare industry to prevent the spread of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections.
What are the central thematic areas?
The core themes include the definition and transmission of nosocomial infections, the components of standard precautions, factors influencing compliance among healthcare staff, and institutional challenges within the Nigerian healthcare system.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to highlight the necessity of strict adherence to infection control guidelines to protect both patients and healthcare personnel, particularly in resource-limited settings like Nigeria.
Which scientific methods are discussed?
The text reviews various literature-based strategies, including surveillance, infection control programs, and assessment models like Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) to evaluate healthcare provider compliance.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the epidemiology of infections, detailed methods of standard precautions (such as hand hygiene and PPE use), barriers to compliance, and an analysis of structural challenges in hospitals.
What characterises the keywords of this work?
The keywords reflect a focus on infection control protocols, the safety of healthcare workers, and the specific challenges faced by institutions regarding resource availability and professional practice.
How does the Nigerian institutional structure impact infection control?
The three-tiered healthcare system in Nigeria dictates how services are distributed, and infection control effectiveness varies significantly between primary, secondary, and tertiary levels based on resources and training.
Why is there often a discrepancy between knowledge and compliance?
The review identifies that while many healthcare workers possess adequate knowledge, actual compliance is often hindered by practical barriers like irregular supply of protective equipment, heavy workload, and lack of institutional support.
- Citation du texte
- Akinmayowa Adedoyin Shobo (Auteur), 2019, Standard Precaution in Nigeria's Healthcare Industry. A Report on the Need for Universal Safety Precautions in the Nigerian Health Sector, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/507992
