Infection Prevention Rates and Related Trends
Context: As part of our commitment to quality care and infection prevention, we conducted biannual hand hygiene audits and tracked infection rates in our ambulatory surgery center. This analysis presents the results obtained from two hand hygiene training sessions and infection rate trends for 2023 and 2024.
Hand Hygiene Audit
Session 1: Pre-Hand Hygiene Training Video
Observation Date: From July 31, 2024 (observation over one month)
Results:
- Number of hand hygiene opportunities observed: 32
- Number of correct hand hygiene instances: 25
- Adherence Rate: 78%
Session 2: Post-Hand Hygiene Training Video
Observation Date: From December 9-19, 2024 (observation over 10 days)
Results:
- Number of hand hygiene opportunities observed: 32
- Number of correct hand hygiene instances: 28
- Adherence Rate: 87.5%
Observed Improvement: A significant improvement of nearly 10% was observed between the two sessions, increasing from 78% to 87.5% hand hygiene adherence after the video training session.
Infection Rates
Infection rates in our ambulatory surgery center for 2023 and 2024 were tracked as follows:
- 2023 Infection Rate: 0.23%
- 2024 Infection Rate: 0.3%
Although we observe a slight increase in infection rates in 2024, we assume this is simply due to a significant increase in the number of surgeries performed compared to 2023. The infection rate remains low (and <1%). We remain vigilant and committed to continuously improving our practices and implementing effective strategies to reduce this rate.
Venous Thromboembolism Rate
The venous thromboembolism (VTE) rate decreased significantly during 2023, from 0.45% to 0.30%. This reduction results from ongoing efforts to integrate the Caprini score in preoperative assessment for all patients, allowing more precise identification of high-risk VTE patients and implementation of adapted preventive measures such as compression stockings and anticoagulant administration when necessary.
- 2023 Thromboembolism Rate: 0.45%
- 2024 Thromboembolism Rate: 0.3%
Pulmonary Embolism Rate
Similarly, the pulmonary embolism rate also showed improvement, decreasing from 0.45% to 0.15% in 2023. This decrease is attributed to proactive thromboembolic risk management and more rigorous post-operative monitoring of at-risk patients, particularly those with VTE history or risk factors identified during Caprini scoring.
- 2023 Pulmonary Embolism Rate: 0.45%
- 2024 Pulmonary Embolism Rate: 0.15%
Fall Rate
Regarding fall prevention, we observed a significant reduction in the fall rate, from 0.68% in 2023 to 0.15%. This decrease results from initiatives implemented to strengthen patient safety, including regular fall risk assessments, preventive mobilization protocols, and ongoing staff training on fall prevention best practices.
- 2023 Fall Rate: 0.68%
- 2024 Fall Rate: 0.15%
Conclusion
The hand hygiene audit results show a clear and measurable improvement in infection prevention practice adherence, particularly after video training. This positive evolution demonstrates the effectiveness of our hand hygiene educational program and reinforces our commitment to ensuring high-quality care and optimal infection prevention.
Infection rates, although slightly increased in 2024, remain generally low, reflecting our team’s continuous efforts to maintain high safety and hygiene standards.
The positive trends observed in reducing VTE, pulmonary embolisms, and falls demonstrate the effectiveness of our preventive measures and implementation of rigorous protocols for managing patient risks. We will continue monitoring these indicators and adjusting our practices to maintain these results and further improve patient safety in our center.
We will continue closely monitoring these indicators and implementing targeted improvements to ensure patient safety and well-being.
