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Found 654 results
  1. News Article
    The former health secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock have been criticised for their failure to better prepare the UK for the pandemic, in a damning first report from the Covid inquiry that calls for an overhaul in how the government prepares for civil emergencies. Hunt, who was the health secretary from 2012-18, and Hancock, who took over until 2021, were named by the chair to the inquiry, Heather Hallett, for failing to rectify flaws in contingency planning before the pandemic, which claimed more than 230,000 lives in the UK. The government had focused largely on the threat of an influenza outbreak despite the fact that coronaviruses in Asia and the Middle East in the preceding years meant “another coronavirus outbreak at a pandemic scale was foreseeable”. Lady Hallett said that to overlook that was “a fundamental error”. “It was not a black swan event,” Hallett said in a 240-page report. It concluded: “The processes, planning and policy of the civil contingency structures within the UK government and devolved administrations and civil services failed their citizens. Ministers and officials were guilty of ‘groupthink’ that led to a false consensus that the UK was well prepared for a pandemic. Never again can a disease be allowed to lead to so many deaths and so much suffering.” In what families bereaved by Covid welcomed as a “hard-hitting, clear-sighted and damning analysis of how and why the UK found itself to be fatally underprepared”, Hallett said “preparedness and resilience for a whole-system emergency must be treated in much the same way as we treat a threat from a hostile state”. The arrival of another pandemic – “potentially one that is even more transmissible and lethal” – was a question of when, not if, she said, and “unless we are better prepared” it would bring “immense suffering and huge financial cost and the most vulnerable in society will suffer most”. Read full story Source: Guardian, 18 July 2024
  2. News Article
    The failures and weaknesses in the UK's pandemic preparations are expected to be laid out in the first report published by the Covid inquiry. Baroness Hallett, who is chairing the public inquiry, will set out her findings at lunchtime. Her report will cover the state of the healthcare system, stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the planning that was in place. It is the first of at least nine reports covering everything from political decision-making to vaccines and the impact on children. Trained army medic Dr Saleyha Ahsan, who worked in hospitals during the first two waves of Covid and is now part of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, after losing her father to the virus, said it felt like there had been “zero planning”, with doctors often struggling to get hold of the right PPE “The rules were changing on a daily basis in the first few weeks - it was ridiculous,” she said. “We were in the flimsiest of PPE, just a little surgical mask with a white apron. “It felt like we were making do and the people who were being pushed to the front were healthcare workers." “It's so, so important for those of us who worked through it, who lost through it, or who have suffered ill health because of it, to really appreciate where things went wrong and who was responsible.” Read full story Source: BBC News, 18 July 2024 Related reading on the hub: The pandemic – questions around Government governance: a blog from David Osborn Respiratory protective equipment: An unequal solution for healthcare workers? A blog by David Osborn
  3. News Article
    Two babies died on a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit during a bacterial outbreak which could have been prevented, the BBC has learned. An internal investigation by Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) said lapses in hygiene practices allowed the drug-resistant bugs to spread. Five other infants were found to have the same Klebsiella pneumoniae strain during the outbreak in November 2021. The mother of a two-week-old boy who died said she felt “betrayed” by the hospital and had begun legal action. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said it had implemented new infection control measures, brought in additional training and increased staffing levels. A nurse who previously worked at the neonatal unit told the BBC staff faced “extremely strenuous” conditions which led to “medical mistakes”. A patient safety incident investigation report, circulated internally in March 2022 and seen by the BBC, also said infection control practices which could have stopped the spread of Klebsiella “were not being implemented consistently” by staff in the unit. It revealed an investigation had found staff in the neonatal unit were not “consistently” following hand hygiene guidelines at the time of the outbreak and “seemed unclear” about where and when personal protective equipment was required. Read full story Source: BBC News, 16 July 2024
  4. Content Article
    Knowing about Group B Strep when you’re pregnant or in the early weeks after birth can make a massive difference – most Group B Strep infections in newborn babies can be prevented, and early treatment can and does save lives. Group B Strep Awareness Month focuses on empowering new and expectant parents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their baby and engaging with healthcare professionals to improve education and awareness.  In this blog, Patient Safety Learning has pulled together six useful resources about Group Strep B shared on the hub.
  5. News Article
    A hospital trust has ordered a review of potential death and harm caused by an outbreak of a serious healthcare-acquired infection, which is resistant to many antibiotics. Frimley Health Foundation Trust has seen outbreaks of carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales (CPE) at both its Frimley Park and Wexham Park sites, starting in the middle of last year, it has emerged. In total, it identified 94 new CPE cases in 2023–24 compared with just 20 in total in 2022–23. It is not clear what the outcomes were for patients infected with CPE, which is associated with a high mortality rate but often infects patients who are already seriously ill. The trust has commissioned a mortality and morbidity review but refused to answer any questions about it before publication. CPE bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are broad-spectrum drugs used to treat serious infections. CPE infections pose a particular risk to vulnerable patients and can spread rapidly in hospitals. There has been increasing concern about them in the UK, with reporting requirements increasing and screening and testing of patients stepping up. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 4 July 2024
  6. Content Article
    Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by some bacteria that may make them resistant to some antibiotics. Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) production is associated with a bacteria usually found in the bowel. ESBL bacteria can be present in the bowel of individuals without their knowledge and may survive there harmlessly until the person becomes ill or requires antibiotic therapy. This information leaflet from the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency explains who is at risk of being infected with an ESBL-producing bacteria, how to reduce transmission and how EBSL infection is treated.
  7. Content Article
    The Framework serves to guide efforts to deliver safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health care waste management and reliable electricity in all health care facilities. The ultimate aim is to provide quality care for all. The Framework reflects a global consultative process and includes data and recommendations articulated in recent WHO/UNICEF global reports on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. It also provides an operational roadmap for implementing the 2023 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. The target audiences for this Framework include health leaders and programme managers at the global and national levels; policymakers; WASH, waste and energy leaders and technical experts; development partners and finance institutions; and actors and experts on gender equality, disability and social inclusion and climate; and, more generally, civil society. The Framework addresses the WASH, waste and electricity elements of the WHO comprehensive approach to build safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities.
  8. Content Article
    Neonatal herpes is a rare, and potentially fatal, disease which usually occurs in the first four weeks of a baby's life. It is caused by the same virus that causes cold sores and genital infections – the herpes simplex virus (HSV).  In this blog, Sarah de Malplaquet, Chief Executive and Founder of the Kit Tarka Foundation, draws on her own devastating experience of her son dying to illustrate why healthcare staff with cold sores must stay away from new babies. Sarah highlights the lack of awareness of the dangers and calls for a widespread review of policy in order to prevent future deaths. 
  9. Content Article
    The Global Strategy for Infection Prevention and Control (GSIPC) vision is that by 2030 everyone accessing and providing healthcare is safe from associated infections. The GPIPC outlines eight strategic directions, providing the guiding framework for country action plans. A Guide to Implementation is being developed to support countries in the development of their national action plans towards the 'vision of 2030'.
  10. Content Article
    This study in BMC Infectious Diseases aimed to estimate the contribution of individual interventions (together and in combination) to the effectiveness of the overall package of interventions implemented in English hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study simulated scenarios to explore how many nosocomial infections might have been seen in patients and healthcare workers if interventions had not been implemented. We simulated the time period from March 2020 to July 2022 encompassing different strains and multiple doses of vaccination.
  11. Content Article
    The intended audience for these guidelines from the World Health Organization, is clinicians (doctors, nurses, Infection Prevention Control professionals, etc.) involved in the management of patients who require intravascular catheters. However, to ensure an appropriate, practical, clinical adherence to the guidelines, hospital administrators and other professionals involved in health care need to understand their importance and the focus of the recommendations to ensure appropriate support for clinicians. Patients are also part of the audience of these guidelines as they need to be generally informed about practices performed for their care and, in some cases, understand the choice of the intervention(s).
  12. Content Article
    FebriDx® is a single-use, analyser-free, point-of-care test with markers for bacterial and viral infection, measured on a finger-prick blood sample. As part of a larger feasibility study, this study explored the views of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients on the use of FebriDx® to safely reduce antibiotic prescriptions for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in primary care. The authors concluded that the tool was perceived as a useful in guiding antibiotic prescribing and supporting shared decision making. Initial practical problems with testing and communicating results are potential barriers to use. Training and practice on using the test and effective communication are likely to be important elements in ensuring patient understanding and satisfaction and successful adoption.
  13. Content Article
    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, and other microorganisms, develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, making them less responsive or unresponsive to treatment. This National Action Plan sets out how the UK will reduce its use of antimicrobials in humans and animals, strengthen surveillance of drug resistant infections before they emerge and incentivise industry to develop the next generation of treatments.
  14. Content Article
    The theme of this year's World Hand Hygiene Day—which takes place on 5 May—is 'sharing knowledge'. In this blog, hub topic leader Julie Storr looks at the question of why it's still so important to share knowledge about hand hygiene. She highlights the power of sharing knowledge to save lives, the need to address research gaps and that hand hygiene should be integrated into all aspects of frontline care.  She also shares tools and resources that can be used to help train and equip frontline healthcare professionals.
  15. Content Article
    At a recent meeting of the 'Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network' (SHBN), members learned of a new initiative designed to improve the safety of healthcare workers in the event of a future pandemic. It should also greatly reduce nosocomial (healthcare acquired) infection. David Osborn explained that the intention is to shift the focus for respiratory protective equipment (RPE) away from FFP3 respirators more towards powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs). Although FFP3s provide efficient protection, they have several disadvantages for use in the healthcare sector, particularly when providing prolonged care of infectious patients. At the height of the pandemic, given the shortage of respirators, a new type of PAPR was developed at Southampton University and used to great effect. Staff reported that, whilst previously they had been coming to work in fear of infection, they now felt safe and secure in the knowledge that they were well protected. David is supporting Professor Kevin Bampton (Chief Executive, British Occupational Hygiene Society) and Professor Paul Elkington (Director, Institute for Medical Innovation, Southampton University). Following the SHBN, David prepared a briefing note (attached below) providing more details of the project.
  16. Content Article
    This podcast looks at preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks within healthcare facilities and strategies to minimise transmission of RSV among healthcare workers and patients during an outbreak. 
  17. Event
    until
    In the context of a multimodal improvement strategy, WHO highlights the importance of training of health workers for sustainable improvement in infection prevention and control (IPC), including hand hygiene. Many countries are demonstrating strong engagement and advancements in scaling-up infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies and actions, but overall, the progress is slow, and gains are at risk. In multiple WHO surveys for example, training and education was the weakest component of IPC programmes around the world both at the national and facility level. With a global workforce of 65 million health workers, this year's campaign focus on training and education and taking action on, for example, hand hygiene can help save lives. Objectives To describe the evidence for the value of IPC and hand hygiene education and training. To outline WHHD 2024 resources and activities. To introduce new products impacting IPC education and training. To promote a shared understanding that IPC education and training should be in place for all health workers to reduce the risk of HAI and AMR, including winners of the WHHD case study submissions. Register
  18. Event
    until
    This global webinar is organised to promote and mark the launch of "My 5 Moments: The Game," an innovative digital game developed through a collaboration between the WHO Infection Prevention and Control Unit and Hub, WHO Academy, game designer, learning game expert, and end users. Aimed at revolutionising hand hygiene education, this game-based learning programme integrates the concept of "My Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" into an engaging, compassionate, and scientifically-backed gaming experience. Set in the futuristic International Alien Hospital, the game challenges players to maintain optimal hand hygiene practices to ensure the safety of both alien patients and the Earth. This session aims to introduce healthcare professionals, educators, and other relevant stakeholders to the game's unique approach to infection prevention and control through gamification, design insights, and the importance of empathy in healthcare. Objectives: To introduce "My 5 Moments: The Game" to healthcare professionals, IPC practitioners, educators, and stakeholders, highlighting its innovative approach to hand hygiene education through gamification, and demonstrating how it can transform traditional learning methodologies in IPC. To provide insights into the game's design and development process, emphasizing the integration of compassion, care, and empathy into its gameplay, and illustrating the importance of these elements in creating a more effective and engaging learning experience for healthcare workers. To encourage the adoption of "My 5 Moments: The Game" within healthcare training and education programmes, to bring behavior change among healthcare workers, and offering guidance on integrating this innovative tool into existing IPC efforts. Register
  19. News Article
    Experts and patient groups have warned that the high cost of private Covid vaccinations could exacerbate health inequalities and leave those more at risk from the virus without a vital line of defence. Both high street chain Boots and pharmacies that partner with the company Pharmadoctor are now offering Covid jabs to those not eligible for a free vaccination through the NHS, with the former charging almost £100 for the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. While Pharmadoctor says each pharmacy sets its own prices, it suggests the Pfizer/BioNTech jab will set customers back £75-£85, while the latest Novavax jab will cost about £45-£55. However experts have raised concerns that the high cost of the private jabs will widen inequalities, with the vaccinations unaffordable for many. “The most disadvantaged in society are most likely to be exposed to respiratory viruses due to things like poverty, intergenerational households and crowded workplaces. While they might be most in need of a seasonal vaccine, they will also be the least likely to afford £100 in the midst of a cost of living crisis,” said Dr Marija Pantelic, of the University of Sussex. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 28 March 2024
  20. Content Article
    Official data on whooping cough show that reports of suspected cases are at a 15-year high in the first three months of 2024. This article in the Pharmaceutical Journal looks at why cases are increasing, including falling rates of children receiving the childhood 6-in-1 vaccine and maternal vaccination. It outlines the symptoms of whooping cough, describes how it can be treated and includes a map identifying infection 'hot spots' in England and Wales. This article is free to read but you will need to sign up for a free Pharmaceutical Journal online account.
  21. Event
    WHO Infection Prevention and Control Global Webinar Series Each year the WHO’s World Hand Hygiene day aims to maintain a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to ‘bring people together’ in support of hand hygiene improvement globally. On this day, everyone, in countries and health facilities, can renew their support and promote and implement strategies and innovations to improve hand hygiene practices in health care. Objectives: To promote a shared understanding of the fact that IPC education and training should be in place for all health workers by utilizing team- and task-based strategies that are participatory and include bedside and simulation training to reduce the risk of HAI and AMR. To outline the importance of campaigning for hand hygiene and WHHD 2024 resources. To outline and describe proposed WHHD 2024 activities. To stimulate engagement with the campaign on and around 5 May 2024. Register
  22. News Article
    Presymptom Health’s technology provides early and reliable information about infection status and severity in patients with non-specific symptoms, helping doctors make better treatment decisions. The company’s tests can be run on NHS PCR platforms, which were widely deployed during the COVID pandemic and are now often under-utilised. By detecting true infection and sepsis earlier, it’s possible to save lives and significantly reduce the incorrect use of antibiotics. When it comes to sepsis, Presymptom’s technology could revolutionise treatment. According to The UK Sepsis Trust, every 3 seconds, someone in the world dies of sepsis. In the UK alone, 245,000 people are affected by sepsis with at least 48,000 people losing their lives in sepsis-related illnesses every year. This is more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined. When diagnosed at a late stage, the likelihood of death increases by 10% for every hour left untreated. Yet, for many patients, with early diagnosis it is easily treatable. “We’re confident that our first product can play a big part in tackling Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), which has been identified by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 10 global public health threats,” said Dr Iain Miller, CEO of Presymptom Health. “By understanding the presence, or absence, of infection as early as possible, doctors can be more confident in their diagnosis and avoid unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics – something that is a growing concern in the NHS and globally. “If we take Sepsis as an example. Sepsis diagnostics hasn’t moved on in more than a century, and currently doctors can only diagnose it when advanced symptoms and organ failure are present – which is often too late. Our technology enables doctors to diagnose both infection and sepsis up to three days before formal clinical diagnosis, radically transforming the process and preventing unnecessary deaths. The science behind Presymptom’s technology is based upon 10 years of work conducted at Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and originated from £16m of sustained Ministry of Defence investment in a programme of research designed to help service personnel survive infection from combat injuries. The technology is currently undergoing clinical trials at nine NHS hospitals in the UK, with results anticipated later in 2024. In addition, Presymptom is working on additional UK and EU trials.
  23. Content Article
    The Joint Commission has released a simplified breakdown of eight patient safety goals for US hospitals in 2024.
  24. Content Article
    This blog looks at evidence around the impact of universal masking in healthcare settings on infection rates. Highlighting a recent study carried out at St. George’s Hospital in London that showed universal to have a negligible benefit on infection control amongst patients, the author argues that it is time to move away from universal masking to masks being worn really carefully as part of PPE for dealing with respiratory symptoms.
  25. Content Article
    The combination of emerging patient safety threats and the growing amount of published patient safety research, patient safety resources and accrediting body standards makes it increasingly difficult to prioritise adopting and implementing evidence-based practices. The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ’s) fourth iteration of Making Healthcare Safer intends to address this issue by publishing evidence-based reviews of patient safety practices and topics as they are completed. This intentional release of updated reviews will aid healthcare organisation leaders in prioritising implementation of evidence-based practices in a timelier way. The report will also help researchers identify where more research is needed and assist policymakers in understanding which patient safety practices have the supporting evidence for promotion.
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