Unnecessary hospital infection control practices in Thailand: a survey

J Hosp Infect. 1998 Sep;40(1):55-9. doi: 10.1016/s0195-6701(98)90025-1.

Abstract

The high prevalence of hospital-acquired infection has a significant impact on the operating cost of hospitals in Thailand. A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted to determine how frequently unnecessary infection control procedures were performed. Nearly 17% of hospitals routinely cleaned floors with disinfectants; 48% installed ultraviolet lights in the operating room; 57% performed routine environmental cultures; 68% reported fogging of the operating theatres and the isolation rooms; wearing a protective gown in the intensive care units was routine in 57% of the surveyed hospitals; 30% of hospital laundries set temperatures unnecessarily high and sterile gloves were overused in 25% of hospitals. Large cost reduction can be achieved by discontinuing these practices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control*
  • Disinfectants / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Surgical Wound Infection / prevention & control
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Thailand

Substances

  • Disinfectants