Taiwan's traffic control bundle and the elimination of nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome among healthcare workers
Journal
Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal Volume
77
Journal Issue
4
Pages
332-337
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
The traffic control bundle consists of procedures designed to help prevent epidemic nosocomial infection. We retrospectively studied the serial infection control measures to determine factors most effective in preventing nosocomial infections of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the 2003 Taiwanese severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic. Fever screening stations, triage of fever patients, separating SARS patients from other patients, separation of entrances and passageways between patients and HCWs, and increasing hand-washing facilities all demonstrated a protective effect for HCWs (univariate analysis; P< 0.05). By multiple logistic regression: (i) checkpoint alcohol dispensers for glove-on hand rubbing between zones of risk, and (ii) fever screening at the fever screen station outside the emergency department, were the significant methods effectively minimising nosocomial SARS infection of HCWs (P< 0.05). The traffic control bundle should be implemented in future epidemics as a tool to achieve strict infection control measures. ? 2010 the Healthcare Infection Society.
Subjects
Nosocomial infection; Personal protective equipment; SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome); SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV); Taiwan; Traffic control bundle
SDGs
Other Subjects
alcohol; article; clinical article; controlled study; emergency health service; epidemic; fever; hand washing; health care personnel; hospital infection; human; infection control; infection prevention; interview; mass screening; nonhuman; patient care; questionnaire; retrospective study; severe acute respiratory syndrome; Taiwan; Cross Infection; Health Personnel; Humans; Infection Control; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Retrospective Studies; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; Taiwan
Type
journal article