Infection control is the discipline that addresses healthcare-associated infections and aims at preventing them from happening in healthcare settings. Healthcare-associated infections are serious issues tied to high mortality. In the US it is estimated that 270 patients die daily in US hospitals because of an infection they acquired from hospitals. Healthcare-associated infections are also linked to increased morbidity, length of stay and cost of care.
To achieve the best infection prevention and control in Dubai.
The mission of the Infection Control at Rashid Hospital is to ensure that there is a managed environment at the facility which minimizes the risk of infection to patients, healthcare workers and visitors by putting infection control and basic hygiene at the heart of good management and clinical practice.
At present, Rashid Hospital’s infection control programs are run by a team of four specialists: Dr. Samar Badreddine (infectious disease consultant, Head of IC office), Ms. Virginia M. Digman (infection control practitioner), Ms. Kochurani Babu (infection control practitioner) and Ms. Maricar Cawagas (infection control practitioner).
- The Infection Control team will ensure that:
1. Appropriate policies and procedures are in place to prevent healthcare associated infections in patients, staff and visitors, and to ensure a proper clean hospital environment.
2. Continuous surveillance of healthcare-associated infections is being done to identify these infections and decrease their magnitude.
3. Performance improvement projects are done based on the surveillance results so as to bring the rates of healthcare-associated infections to the lowest possible level.
4. Continuous education of hospital staff is done regarding the principles of infection control.
5. Proper antibiotic utilization is prescribed at Rashid Hospital.
- Infection Control Committee:
• The Infection Control Committee is multidisciplinary and is composed of representatives from most departments. It meets on a monthly basis and oversees the work of the Infection Control team.
• The Infection Control Committee acts as the advocate for prevention and control of infections in the facility and gives political and administrative support to the infection control program.
• Establishing a reliable, focused surveillance program
• Streamlining data management activities
• Analyzing HAI rates
• Benchmarking our data with international data
• Educating staff regarding infection control principles
• Identifying opportunities for performance improvement and facilitating performance improvement projects with concerned parties
• Writing and periodically reviewing infection control policies
• Overseeing infection related issues relevant to employees’ health
• Carrying outbreak investigations when an outbreak is identified
• Participating in research projects
Dr. Samar Badreddine (infectious disease consultant, Head of IC office) Phone: 2192781, 2191728
Ms. Virginia M. Digman (infection control practitioner) Phone: 2192275
Ms. Kochurani Babu (infection control practitioner) Phone: 2192275
Ms. Maricar Cawagas (infection control practitioner) Phone: 2192275