Construction of a postoperative infection outbreak investigation form: A tool for early detection and control measures

Yulong Cao; Bin Wang; Yanbin Wang; Yan Wang; Wei Huai; Xiaoyuan Bao; Meng Jin; Yicheng Jin; Yixi Jin; Zexin Zhang; Jiao Shan

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2023.12.011

Construction of a postoperative infection outbreak investigation form: A tool for early detection and control measures

Am J Infect Control. 2024 May;52(5):588-594. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2023.12.011. Epub 2023 Dec 23.

Authors

Yulong Cao¹, Bin Wang², Yanbin Wang³, Yan Wang⁴, Wei Huai⁵, Xiaoyuan Bao⁶, Meng Jin⁶, Yicheng Jin⁷, Yixi Jin⁸, Zexin Zhang⁹, Jiao Shan¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Nephrology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁵ Department of Emergency, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁶ Medical Information Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
⁷ School of General Studies, Columbia University, New York, USA.
⁸ Khoury College of Computer Science, Northeastern University, Seattle, USA.
⁹ Graduate School of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: caoyulongchn@163.com.

PMID: 38142776
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2023.12.011

Abstract

Background: To develop an investigation form for postoperative infection outbreak (PIO), and to identify sources of the outbreak in the early stage.

Methods: After an exhaustive literature review, we used the Delphi method to determine the indicators and relative risk scores of the assessment tools through 2 rounds of specialist consultation and overall consideration of the opinions and suggestions of 20 specialists.

Results: A total of 203 studies of PIO were eligible for inclusion. The mean authority coefficient (Cr) was 0.87. Kendall's W coefficient of the specialist consultation was 0.704 after 2 rounds of consultation (P < .005), suggesting that the specialists had similar opinions. Based on 4 primary items and 19 secondary items of the source of PIO, and tripartite distribution characteristics of infected patients, we constructed the PIO investigation form.

Conclusions: The PIO investigation form can be used in the investigation of the early-stage cluster of cases, it's a prerequisite for taking effective control measures, avoiding PIO occurrence. However, the effect of the investigation form needs to be further evaluated.

Keywords: Infection outbreak investigation; Modified Delphi method; Source of infection.