In an effort to help people navigate the challenging healthcare scenario, for the first time, a US-based nonprofit tax-exempt 501 organisation Joint Commission International (JCI), and Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a Johnson & Johnson company, jointly revealed a new infection prevention toolkit recently in Mumbai. The infection prevention toolkit is developed by global experts.

This was informed at a recently held event by JCI and ASP on 'Enhancing Leadership in infection Prevention ' in Mumbai. The event was organised with an aim to drive conversation around the exciting initiative, leadership role in preventing Health Associated Infections (HAIs) and how to implement a sustainable programme in the healthcare environment.

In the discussion, that involved various experts who exchanged views and dissussed different topics related to the challenges in the healthcare, Dr Prabhu Vinayagam, Asia-Pacific managing director, JCI talked about the 'The Global Challenges in infection Prevention.'

“Lack of adherence to proper hygiene during treatment is the reason for HAI. Some bacteria become resistant to the drugs used in hospitals as they lurk there. According to me, 40-50 percent of infections in hospitals were acquired due to failure of compliance top hygiene and the apathy of doctors, ”says Dr Vinayagam.

The discussion also informed that the HAIs were among the top five causes of death in the US. In India, patient safety and positive outcomes were more challenging due to the emergence of Multi-drug Resistant Organisms.

The WHO estimates about 7-12 per cent HAI burden in hospitalised patients, globally.  The figures from India are alarming, with an incidence rate varying from 11 per cent to 83 per cent for different kinds of HAIs.

The infection prevention toolkit would also serve as a comprehensive guide, based on evidence-based processes, industry standards and guidelines and comprises of case studies and best practices and the need to initiate conversations and discussions around the same in the industry. The comprehensive guide is based on evidence-based processes, industry standards and guidelines and is comprised of cases studies and best practices.