INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE
Chairman: Dr. Amina Al Jardani, Sr. Consultant, Microbiology
Vice-Chairman:
Secretary: Mrs. Salima Al Harthy, Nursing Officer, Infection Control
Members:
Dr. George Paul, Sr. Consultant, Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr. Mario de Souza, Advisor, Hospital Administration
Mrs. Laila Al Battashy, Head, Quality Management
Representatives from Divisions of Child Health, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Surgery,Medicine
Epidemiologist, Directorate General of Health Affairs, MoH-HQ.
INFECTION CONTROL TEAM
Dr. Amina Al Jardani, Head
Mrs. Salima Al Harthy, Infection Control Nursing Officer
5 Infection Control Nurses.
After frequent meetings to lay down the infection control policies for the Hospital (which have been published as a book and are now being adopted in all MoH healthcare facilities), the Infection Control Team has been meeting every alternative month to review the nosocomial infection statistics, surveillance reports, representations from departments for change in certain policies, etc. The nosocomial infection rate (NIR) at Royal Hospital ranges from 1.3 % to 2%. Major issues discussed by the committee include: monthly review of the infection control rate, periodical revision of the infection control policies and procedures, isolation policies, waste disposal policy, exposure of hospital staff to blood-borne infections.
The Infection Control Team conducts daily rounds and liaises with the Link Nurses of all wards to detect new cases of nosocomial infection, investigate the source and mode of transmission, advise on which patients should be isolated (protective isolation or source isolation), observe implementation of infection control practices. The team also liaises closely with the Staff Health Clinic for administration Hepatitis B vaccine and recording of antibody levels, review of staff illnesses which pose risk to patient care, and investigation of accidental inoculation injuries. Since July 2000, the Infection Control Team has worked out the acceptable rates of cross infection for each ward, based on the infection rates prevailing during the previous three years. These rates are kept as benchmarks/indicators to monitor the monthly NIR rate of each specific area. The Infection Control Team has also been providing 1-3 months training for staff deputed from other Regions for on-the-job-training. On request, the Chairman and the Nursing Officer have been visiting other MoH healthcare facilities for providing consultancy services and to deliver training lectures.
