Riyadh in October 2019 will witness the most illuminating and analytical 3 days of Infection Prevention and Control educational content. The prestigious Infection Prevention and Control 2019KSA conference will feature internationally and nationally acclaimed speakers, sharing global best practice and case studies. In the networking zone exhibitors will showcase the latest technologies and services from around the world to enter the market place. Join over 1000 healthcare professionals at this must-attend event.
“The necessity for robust hospital and community based infection control programs around the world has become obvious for the subsistence of modern medicine. Healthcare facilities serve as a platform for the emergence of bacterial resistance and a cradle for infection transmission. This comes as no surprise, especially with overcrowded healthcare facilities and the difficulty for healthcare systems to keep up with the large demand for patient care. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been in the limelight for some time now. Stronger, more resistant superbugs have emerged, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Variations in mechanisms of resistance, sprouting from the diversity and complexity of resistance genes, unclear and varied transmission patterns, and the inability to identify proper cohorting policies, is like nothing we have ever seen before. In 2014, for the first time in two decades, Ebola has caused a global threat and led to a major alert, instigating the public health community to react. The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) was established and the enforcement of International Health Regulations (IHR) had never been stronger. In 2012, a new corona virus emerged, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV), here on our own Arabian Peninsula, and mobilized a vigorous movement to enhance infection control practices, not only in the Gulf Health Council (GHC) countries but around the world. Establishing and sustaining infection control programs has made it as one of the top priorities for healthcare systems worldwide.” Dr Hanan Bhalky. Gulf Council for Cooperation (Infection Control)
Surveillance, prevention and control of infection cover a broad range of processes and activities carried out by the organization’s Infection Prevention and Control Department to identify and reduce risks of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, staff, healthcare professionals, contract workers, volunteers, students, and visitors. This function also involves links to external organization support systems to reduce the risk of infection from the environment, including food and water sources. They also coordinate all activities related to the control and prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), as well as infections brought into the hospital.
Each hospital must identify those epidemiologically important infections, infection sites and associated devices, procedures and practices that will provide the focus of efforts to prevent and to reduce the risks and incidences of HAIs. A risk-based approach uses surveillance as an important component for gathering data that will guide the risk assessment. Hospitals collect and evaluate data on the following relevant infections and sites:
a. Respiratory tract - such as the procedures and medical technology associated with intubation, mechanical ventilator support, tracheostomy, and so forth.
b. Urinary tract - such as the invasive procedures and medical technology associated with indwelling catheters, urinary drainage systems, their care, etc.
c. Intravascular invasive devices - such as the insertion and care of central venous catheters, peripheral venous lines, and so forth.
d. Surgical sites - such as the care and type of dressing and associated aseptic procedures.
e. Epidemiologically significant diseases and organisms - multidrug-resistant organisms and highly virulent infections.
f. Emerging or re-emerging infections within the community
The aspired outcomes are not limited to enhancing patient safety but to establish the wellbeing of the population as a whole; including healthcare providers, visitors and sitters, and in the larger picture to maintain Global Biosecurity. Our objectives include the following.
1. Head and lead the regional antimicrobial resistance (AMR) agenda.
2. Prevent and mitigate the risk of outbreaks in the region and its global transmission, specifically related to MERS-CoV.
3. Minimize healthcare-associated infections in patients, visitors and staff members at all levels of healthcare facilities.
4. Align and unify the surveillance practices to establish and strengthen the benchmark process for healthcare-associated infections in the region.
5. Enhance the networking process among the experts nationally and regionally and connect with global entities and experts in the field.
6. Provide a global model(s) from the region in hospital-based infection control best practices
7. Share challenges and successes in mitigating healthcare-associated infections.
An additional challenge faced in the Kingdom is MERS-CoV. From 14 February through 31 March 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 22 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including four deaths, associated with the outbreak in Wadi Aldwasir. Of the 22 cases, 19 were reported from Wadi Aldwasir city including two healthcare workers. The remaining three cases, which are epidemiologically linked to the outbreak, were healthcare workers from a hospital in Khamees Mushait city, Asir region.
Since the beginning of this outbreak in January 2019, a total of 61 MERS-CoV cases, with a case fatality ratio of 13.1% (8/61), have been reported in Wadi Aldwasir city (Data correct to May 2019). The median age of reported cases was 46 years (range 16 to 85 years). Of the 61 cases, 65% (n=46) were male, and 23% (n = 14) were health care workers.
Investigations into the source of infection of the 61 cases found that 37 were health-care acquired infections, 14 were primary cases presumed to be infected from contact with dromedary camels and the remaining (10) infections occurred among close contacts outside of health care settings. As previously reported, two human to human transmission amplification events took place at a hospital during this outbreak.
2030 Vision-Healthcare
CARING FOR OUR HEALTH
Our health care system has benefited from substantive investment in recent decades. As a result, we now have 2.2 hospital beds for every 1,000 people, world class medical specialists with average life expectancy rising from 66 years to 74 years in the past three decades. We are determined to optimize and better utilize the capacity of our hospitals and health care centers, and enhance the quality of our preventive and therapeutic health care services. The public sector will focus on promoting preventive care, on reducing infectious diseases and in encouraging citizens to make use of primary care as a first step. It will deepen collaboration and integration between health and social care, as well as supporting families to provide home care when necessary for their relatives. The public sector will focus on its planning, regulatory and supervisory roles in health care. We intend to provide our health care through public corporations both to enhance its quality and to prepare for the benefits of privatization in the longer term. We will work towards developing private medical insurance to improve access to medical services and reduce waiting times for appointments with specialists and consultants. Our doctors will be given better training to improve treatment for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer that threaten our nation’s health.
