Delhi hospitals to help curb infection in ICUs

The apex accrediting body of healthcare providers is training hospitals in Delhi to curb infection in intensive care units and operation theatres.

According to National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), this will help both patients and hospitals to reduce the stay of patients after surgery, and less spending by patients on medication. These will also lead to availability of beds and more earnings for hospitals.

“Our aim is patient safety and to attain this, we have to help hospitals attain good standards. Infection control is one of our goals, especially in the surgical room. The safety standards regarding infection control adopted by a department in a Kochi hospital helped it save Rs 21 lakh per year,” said NABH CEO Giridhar J Gyani.

He said medical staff in 80 medical colleges have already been trained, including those from Maulana Azad Medical College and University College of Medical Sciences.

In India, hospital acquired infection is seven per cent, especially in OTs and ICUs.

“There is less focus on infection control in all major hospitals,” said Dr Sanjeev Singh, medical superintendent of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi.

He stressed on good engineering to control infection.

“There should be no window ACs in OTs and ICUs. Air should not be allowed to re-circulate in the surgical room and there should be three layers of filters in ACs. This will keep infection at bay,” he added.