Implementation status of national airborne infection control guidelines in the health care facilities of a North Indian State: A mixed method study

OBJECTIVE: Healthcare-acquired infection (HCAIs), have become a significant cause of morbidity as well as mortality among the hospitalized patients and health care workers. The implementation of air-borne infection control measures play an important role in prevention of health care acquired infections (HCAIs). Hence, this study was planned to assess the implementation status of National Airborne Infection Control Guidelines in the health care settings of a North Indian State. STUDY DESIGN: A mixed method study was planned in all the 13 health facilities of Himachal Pradesh having both the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre and Directly observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) for TB center in the same facility. METHODS: The implementation of airborne infection control measures was evaluated using a Standardized Health Care Facility Airborne Infection Risk Assessment Tool and an observational checklist. In-depth interviews are conducted with hospital staff. At all health facilities, risk assessment and implementation of airborne infection control was evaluated by using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. The qualitative data was analyzed manually and transcripts prepared from hand written notes and audio tape records were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Only 5 out of 13 health facilities were having specially designated airborne infection control committee. The incidence of tuberculosis among hospital staff was 2.32% at secondary level health care facilities and 0.35% at tertiary care level health facilities. Among the tuberculosis cases, maximum were nursing staff (59.5%) as compared to other categories of health care workers. Improper functioning of health care system and individual factors were main reasons for deficiencies in the implementation of air-borne infection control measures. CONCLUSION: The health care facilities were not implementing the infection control measure to the fullest both at secondary and tertiary care health facilities. There is a need to set up the surveillance of airborne infections in the hospital and especially the passive surveillance of tuberculosis among health care workers.