The Romanian health system urgently needs a deep rethinking of the strategy for preventing and combating infections associated with health care, say the representatives of the Romanian College of Physicians after the deaths of the “Saint Maria” Children’s Hospital in Iași.
CMR says that a rethinking of the strategy on these infections is needed. Photo shutterstock
“We must overcome the state of statements and intentions – «We want to do» – and let’s move on to concrete facts, implementing and effectively controlling the procedures, passing ‘from paper’, to implement and follow their respect. All these things cannot be fulfilled without real investments in infrastructure. Cosmetizations or superficial work does not solve the problem. We all see that we still face critical situations ”said CMR in a statement issued on Friday Agerpres.
We recall that the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, spoke on Friday about the case of six children younger than one year who were admitted to the Children’s Hospital. “Saint Mary” From Iasi they died in the last days, they were infected with the Bacteria Serratia Marcescens.
“In the tragic case of children admitted to the Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children Saint Mary From Iasi, we send condolences to the bereaved families. It is essential to clarify, in this case, what happened, but at the same time, such incidents, which appear with a certain frequency, reflect a major minus in the system, which we must recognize. The responsibilities must be analyzed and clearly identify the measures by which such tragedies should not be repeated ” is shown in the statement.
“It is necessary for the role of the epidemiologist to be really noticed.”
According to CMR representatives, combating infections associated with medical assistance must be addressed on several levels simultaneously:
– the construction of medical infrastructure in accordance, with functional circuits, which helps to combat nosocomial infections;
– the proper restoration of the existing infrastructure, where possible, without superficial solutions, may rethink the circuits in the hospitals where problems are identified;
– equipping with equipment that allows a rapid diagnosis of infections;
– strict observance of the medical procedures in order to limit the infections associated with the medical assistance;
– effective control of the use of antibiotics, especially in hospitals;
– insurance in all hospitals of an optimal number of epidemiologists, with a role in the supervision and prevention of infections associated with medical assistance;
– the continuous professional training of the medical personnel, but also of the auxiliary person, on the prevention of infections associated with medical assistance and hygiene norms;
– the obligation to respect the procedures that limit the transmission of infections: from the hygiene of the hands, the use of the protective equipment, to the asepsis measures that accompany each maneuver;
– respecting and verifying the quality of disinfectants and sanitary materials used;
– ensuring the adequate number of medical personnel employed in the risk sections, to limit the contact of an assistant or doctor with several patients, but on the other hand and to provide time to medical staff for laborious procedures, before and after reaching infected or colonized patients;
– the frequent control of the cleaning and disinfection procedures applied, especially in the risk sections;
– compliance with the procedures of early diagnosis and reporting of infections associated with medical assistance;
– times stipulated in the activity of the medical personnel for the acquisition and verification of the acquisition of the knowledge related to the prevention of infections associated with medical care.
“All this can be done with sustained effort, with proper financing, but perhaps most importantly, with a strategic direction to be respected, with clear implementation terms. Infections associated with medical assistance cause tragedies. it takes into account the measures it imposes at the level of the medical unit.
I assure you that the institution of the Romanian College of Physicians will support any effort it takes to avoid such tragedies and to effectively control the infections associated with medical assistance. And, in order to move from statements to facts, I expect any kind of concrete proposal from institutions with role in public health and competence in managing infections associated with medical assistance and I assure you of all the effort of the CMR in support of the patient’s health and the medical profession ”said prof. Univ. dr. Cătălina Poiană, president of the Romanian College of Physicians, quoted in the press release)
