The role of primary care in the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections

Abstract

Little research has been conducted to date on the role of primary health care (PHC) in the prevention of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). The present article is a theoretical study of the principle of primum non nocere and aims to promote reflection on the role of PHC in HCAI prevention with emphasis on practical recommendations. The indirect and direct roles of PHC in HCAI prevention are debated in light of this guiding principle. With respect to the indirect role of PHC, we discuss the issues of hospital-centrism and ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. The article outlines a number of challenges faced by health services related to PHC's direct role in HCAI prevention, highlights seven key components of HCAI prevention programmes within the PHC sphere and provides practical recommendations for HCAI control and prevention. DESCRIPTORES RESUMENEl rol de la Atención Primaria a la Salud (APS) en la prevención de Infecciones Relacionadas con la Asistencia a la Salud (IRAS) rara vez se discute en la literatura. El presente artículo tiene como meta desarrollar un estudio teórico con base en el principio Primum non nocere, trayendo a la luz una reflexión acerca del papel de la APS en la prevención de IRAS con énfasis en las recomendaciones de prácticas. Los roles indirecto y directo de la APS en la prevención de IRAS se debaten teniendo en cuenta este principio orientador. En el rol indirecto de la APS se discuten el tema del hospitalocentrismo y los internamientos por condiciones sensibles a la atención primaria. Con respecto al rol directo se apuntan los retos a superarse. Se señalan siete componentes esenciales para el desarrollo de un programa de prevención de IRAS en la APS y las respectivas recomendaciones. DESCRIPTORSInfección hospitalaria Seguridad del paciente Atención Primaria de Salud Enfermería en salud comunitaria Modelos teóricos

Knowledge of COVID-19 among Brazilian health care professionals and associated factors

“…[53][54][55] An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program. [11] As it is clear that prioritizing the hospital-centric model in the fight against the pandemic is an inadequate approach, the degree of knowledge presented by PHC health professionals found in this study is encouraging, since PHC should be considered essential to the front line of the fight against COVID-19.…”

“…An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program [11] …”

Knowledge of COVID-19 among Brazilian health care professionals and associated factors

“…[53][54][55] An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program. [11] As it is clear that prioritizing the hospital-centric model in the fight against the pandemic is an inadequate approach, the degree of knowledge presented by PHC health professionals found in this study is encouraging, since PHC should be considered essential to the front line of the fight against COVID-19.…”

“…An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program [11] …”

Assessment of Infection Control Measures at Primary Health Care Facilities in Egypt

“…Procedures that are relatively invasive and may result in adverse effects commonly performed in PHC include insertion of intrauterine devices, injections, and dental procedures. There is a recognized risk associated with the acquisition of viruses such as hepatitis B and HIV [6]. Advantages and limitations of national assessment tool…”

Segurança do paciente na atenção primária í saúde: uma reflexão teórica

“…Entretanto, até o momento não existem estimativas a este respeito. 26 Diante dos resultados apresentados e considerando que a APS é caracterizada como a porta de entrada do sistema de saúde e que tem a premissa de resolver cerca de 85% dos problemas da população, seus profissionais devem ter uma atuação assertiva de modo a prevenir a ocorrência de eventos adversos. 27 Ressalta-se que para a prevenção de riscos é necessário identificar e analisar a sua origem, bem como sistematizar as medidas preventivas de forma proativa e, não somente, quando os erros acontecem.…”

Knowledge of COVID-19 among Brazilian health care professionals and associated factors

“…[53][54][55] An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program. [11] As it is clear that prioritizing the hospital-centric model in the fight against the pandemic is an inadequate approach, the degree of knowledge presented by PHC health professionals found in this study is encouraging, since PHC should be considered essential to the front line of the fight against COVID-19.…”

“…An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program [11] …”

Assessment of Infection Control Measures at Primary Health Care Facilities in Egypt

“…Procedures that are relatively invasive and may result in adverse effects commonly performed in PHC include insertion of intrauterine devices, injections, and dental procedures. There is a recognized risk associated with the acquisition of viruses such as hepatitis B and HIV [6]. Advantages and limitations of national assessment tool…”

Segurança do paciente na atenção primária í saúde: uma reflexão teórica

“…Entretanto, até o momento não existem estimativas a este respeito. 26 Diante dos resultados apresentados e considerando que a APS é caracterizada como a porta de entrada do sistema de saúde e que tem a premissa de resolver cerca de 85% dos problemas da população, seus profissionais devem ter uma atuação assertiva de modo a prevenir a ocorrência de eventos adversos. 27 Ressalta-se que para a prevenção de riscos é necessário identificar e analisar a sua origem, bem como sistematizar as medidas preventivas de forma proativa e, não somente, quando os erros acontecem.…”

Knowledge of COVID-19 among Brazilian health care professionals and associated factors

“…[53][54][55] An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program. [11] As it is clear that prioritizing the hospital-centric model in the fight against the pandemic is an inadequate approach, the degree of knowledge presented by PHC health professionals found in this study is encouraging, since PHC should be considered essential to the front line of the fight against COVID-19.…”

“…An important and positive result of the present work is the lack of statistically significant difference of knowledge (basic, advanced, and total) between PHC and specialised care professionals. As infection control programs are rare in the PHC services of the Brazilian Unified Health System, [56] this result is contradictory to the finding of a study where health professionals who worked in services with an infection control program had greater knowledge about MERS than those who worked in services that did not have this type of program [11] …”

Assessment of Infection Control Measures at Primary Health Care Facilities in Egypt

“…Procedures that are relatively invasive and may result in adverse effects commonly performed in PHC include insertion of intrauterine devices, injections, and dental procedures. There is a recognized risk associated with the acquisition of viruses such as hepatitis B and HIV [6]. Advantages and limitations of national assessment tool…”

Segurança do paciente na atenção primária í saúde: uma reflexão teórica

“…Entretanto, até o momento não existem estimativas a este respeito. 26 Diante dos resultados apresentados e considerando que a APS é caracterizada como a porta de entrada do sistema de saúde e que tem a premissa de resolver cerca de 85% dos problemas da população, seus profissionais devem ter uma atuação assertiva de modo a prevenir a ocorrência de eventos adversos. 27 Ressalta-se que para a prevenção de riscos é necessário identificar e analisar a sua origem, bem como sistematizar as medidas preventivas de forma proativa e, não somente, quando os erros acontecem.…”