Table 7 Infection prevention and control practices

The IPC Department or Unit is responsible for development of evidencebased and practical IPC guidelines for the institution or publication and dissemination of the current national guidelines or international guidelines if local guidelines are not available

43 (65.2)

11 (16.7)

40 (68.9)

7 (12.1)

0.84

Isolation areas/rooms for examination of suspect cases are identified in clinical areas (inpatient and outpatient)

46 (68.7)

12 (17.9)

40 (68.9)

7 (12.1)

0.66

Staff are aware of the process for safe movement of suspect patient from point of identification to examination area/room for review

47 (70.1)

7 (10.4)

32 (56.1)

9 (15.8)

0.34

Isolation rooms/ward is available for use at all times in case of a suspect or probable case

50 (74.6)

11 (16.4)

34 (58.6)

8 (13.8)

0.13

Isolation rooms should ideally be adequately ventilated single rooms (optimally ≥12 air changes per hour) and negative pressure for aerosol generating procedures, with anteroom

38 (56.7)

22 (32.8)

20 (34.5)

23 (39.7)

0.07

Process is in place for regular monitoring of the pressure and ventilation of the isolation rooms to ensure good maintenance ready for use

33 (49.2)

25 (37.3)

21 (36.8)

24 (42.1)

0.58

There is clear identification of and restriction to the rooms, routes and buildings used in connection with patient care of patients with suspected and probable EVD

37 (55.2)

21 (31.3)

25 (43.1)

18 (31.0)

0.42

Number of visitors is limited to those essential for patient support and they take the same IPC precautions as the healthcare workers

50 (74.6)

10 (14.9)

33 (56.9)

13 (22.4)

0.12

Medical/surgical masks are provided to all suspected and confirmed cases during transport

53 (80.3)

6 (9.1)

39 (67.2)

9 (15.5)

0.04

A particulate respirator is used during aerosolgenerating procedures (e.g. aspiration of respiratory tract, intubation, resuscitation, collection of nasopharyngeal swab/aspirate, bronchoscopy, autopsy).

37 (55.2)

16 (23.8)

24 (41.3)

20 (34.5)

0.26

PAPR is available when needed (as alternative to N95 mask for healthcare workers who fail to fit) and who have been adequately trained in their use, and decontamination

25 (37.9)

29 (43.9)

9 (15.5)

32 (55.2)

0.01

Compliance to IPC guidelines related to handling laboratory specimens is audited regularly with timely feedback to stakeholders for prompt correction actions to be taken

30 (44.8)

16 (23.9)

22 (39.9)

16 (27.6)

0.65

Compliance to IPC guidelines related to food preparation is audited regularly with timely feedback to stakeholders for prompt correction actions to be taken

24 (36.9)

22 (33.8)

28 (49.1)

18 (31.6)

0.33

Compliance to IPC guidelines related to laundry and cleaning services is audited regularly with timely feedback to stakeholders for prompt correction actions to be taken

36 (56.2)

15 (23.4)

29 (50.9)

13 (22.8)

0.85

Compliance to IPC guidelines related to waste management is audited regularly with timely feedback to stakeholders for prompt correction actions to be taken

43 (66.2)

10 (15.4)

32 (56.1)

10 (17.5)

0.48

The sequence in putting on and removal of PPE is developed

44 (67.7)

8 (12.3)

32 (56.1)

6 (10.5)

0.2

Adequate alcohol hand rub agents are provided at point of care areas for use of healthcare workers

44 (68.7)

16 (25.0)

44 (77.2)

9 (15.8)

0.48

Hand moisturizer is freely accessible for use of healthcare workers to help maintain skin integrity on hands

29 (45.3)

28 (43.7)

32 (56.1)

20 (35.1)

0.52

Spill kits complete with absorbent pads and disinfectants are freely accessible in the isolation rooms for timely and prompt use by healthcare workers when required

26 (39.4)

29 (43.9)

17 (30.4)

23 (41.1)

0.18

Healthcare workers are familiar with steps for management of spills and competent in safe execution of these steps

39 (59.1)

9 (13.6)

28 (49.1)

8 (14.0)

0.41

Staff working in high risk areas (Emergency Department, Isolation Wards) work as a team in looking out for each other on integrity of PPE during use, safe removal and compliance to IPC guidelines

38 (58.5)

11 (16.9)

29 (50.9)

12 (21.0)

0.73

Where applicable, for patients discharged home following recovery from an infectious disease, family members are instructed on the appropriate IPC measures to be taken at home

30 (45.4)

21 (31.8)

24 (42.1)

14 (24.5)

0.55

Contact tracing teams are trained and competent in contact tracing methodology

39 (59.1)

14 (21.2)

33 (57.9)

14 (24.6)

0.39

Policy is in place for exposure management of staff and this includes investigations, quarantine/sick leave

31 (46.9)

19 (28.8)

26 (45.6)

16 (28.1)

0.94

Healthcare workers are familiar with steps in reporting of exposures

51 (77.3)

7 (10.6)

40 (70.2)

4 (7.0)

0.27

Policy is in place for safe after death management such as use of body bag, cleaning of corpse at clinical area

32 (48.5)

19 (28.8)

21 (36.8)

19 (33.3)

0.36