Wrechelle Ocampo1, Rose Geransar1, Nancy Clayden1, Jessica Jones2, Jill de Grood1, Mark Joffe3, Geoffrey Taylor3, Bayan Missaghi4, Craig Pearce5, William Ghali6, John Conly7. 1. W21C Research and Innovation Centre, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 2. Human Factors, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 3. Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 4. Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 5. Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 6. W21C Research and Innovation Centre, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 7. W21C Research and Innovation Centre, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: john.conly@albertahealthservices.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ward closure is a method of controlling hospital-acquired infectious diseases outbreaks and is often coupled with other practices. However, the value and efficacy of ward closures remains uncertain. PURPOSE: To understand the current practices and perceptions with respect to ward closure for hospital-acquired infectious disease outbreaks in acute care hospital settings across Canada. METHODS: A Web-based environmental scan survey was developed by a team of infection prevention and control (IPC) experts and distributed to 235 IPC professionals at acute care sites across Canada. Data were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach of descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 110 completed responses showed that 70% of sites reported at least 1 outbreak during 2013, 44% of these sites reported the use of ward closure. Ward closure was considered an "appropriate," "sometimes appropriate," or "not appropriate" strategy to control outbreaks by 50%, 45%, and 5% of participants, respectively. System capacity issues and overall risk assessment were main factors influencing the decision to close hospital wards following an outbreak. DISCUSSION: Results suggest the use of ward closure for containment of hospital-acquired infectious disease outbreaks in Canadian acute care health settings is mixed, with outbreak control methods varying. The successful implementation of ward closure was dependent on overall support for the IPC team within hospital administration.
BACKGROUND: Ward closure is a method of controlling hospital-acquired infectious diseases outbreaks and is often coupled with other practices. However, the value and efficacy of ward closures remains uncertain. PURPOSE: To understand the current practices and perceptions with respect to ward closure for hospital-acquired infectious disease outbreaks in acute care hospital settings across Canada. METHODS: A Web-based environmental scan survey was developed by a team of infection prevention and control (IPC) experts and distributed to 235 IPC professionals at acute care sites across Canada. Data were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach of descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 110 completed responses showed that 70% of sites reported at least 1 outbreak during 2013, 44% of these sites reported the use of ward closure. Ward closure was considered an "appropriate," "sometimes appropriate," or "not appropriate" strategy to control outbreaks by 50%, 45%, and 5% of participants, respectively. System capacity issues and overall risk assessment were main factors influencing the decision to close hospital wards following an outbreak. DISCUSSION: Results suggest the use of ward closure for containment of hospital-acquired infectious disease outbreaks in Canadian acute care health settings is mixed, with outbreak control methods varying. The successful implementation of ward closure was dependent on overall support for the IPC team within hospital administration.
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