Mrs. Arene Smuts1, Professor Steven Frost2
1SWSLHD Bowral & District Hospital, Bowral, Australia, 2SWSLHD Ingham institute, Liverpool, Australia
Biography:
I completed a 4-year Diploma in general, community, psychiatric nursing, and midwifery in South Africa. Since then, I completed post-basic courses in peri-operative, infection prevention, BBF exposures and immunizations. In South Africa I was a midwife, and an ophthalmic peri-operative nurse. I came to Australia as a scrub/scout at Westmead for 2 years before returning to South Africa and continuing peri-operative nursing and Infection Prevention. In 2012 we immigrated to Australia after securing a position in the Infection Prevention unit at Liverpool hospital. In 2015 I started at Bowral & District Hospital as the Infection Prevention and Staff health CNC
Abstract:
Introduction
Currently, the main source of national statistics for Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) other than Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream, and joint infections are based on healthcare associated complications (HACs) data collected by Clinical Coders.
HAIs have been collected and investigated at Bowral & District Hospital since 2001. These include all bloodstream, surgical site, urinary tract, respiratory and soft tissue HAIs.
When HAC data became available for review, a discrepancy was noticed between that and HAI data. This study was targeting the discrepancy, and assessing the reasons behind that by looking at record entry gaps that may affect HAI identification from January 2022 to June 2024.
Method
HAI and HAC data was collected independently of each other, and cases matched up on a spreadsheet, each case was measured against international HAI criteria to assess whether it was a true HAI or not. The medical record was also reviewed for how HAI was identified by looking at whether the HAI was documented in the Discharge summary, in treating team notes or by other after hours or junior medical officers. Statistical analysis was then conducted on data and grafts produced.
Results
Majority of cases were identified by HAI data collection; a significant amount of HAC cases was found not to meet HAI criteria. HACs were more likely to be identified when HAIs were documented in the discharge summary.
Conclusion
HAC data does not provide accurate HAI rates, accuracy is likely to improve with improvements to medical officer documentation, especially in the discharge summary.