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Need for increased IC measures in ambulatory care settings cited

Infection Control Weekly Monitor, January 7, 2009

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Unsafe injection practices were responsible for 33 outbreaks of hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HBC) virus infections in U.S. outpatient healthcare settings over the past 10 years, according to an article in the January issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The outbreaks—12 in outpatient clinics, six in hemodialysis centers, and 15 in long-term care facilities—resulted in 448 people acquiring HBV or HCV infections, the article stated. The infections occurred though patient-to-patient transmission because of the failure of healthcare workers to adhere to fundamental principles of infection control and aseptic technique, such as reuse of syringes or lancing devices, the article indicated.

“Difficult to detect and investigate, these recognized outbreaks indicate a wider and growing problem as healthcare is increasingly provided in outpatient settings in which infection control training and oversight may be inadequate,” the article’s authors wrote. For more about the article, click here.

In response to the article, Kathy Warye, CEO of APIC, cited the need for increased infection prevention measures in outpatient settings and said APIC is working with HONOReform, a national coalition formed to halt unsafe needle practices in outpatient centers.

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