The effectiveness of a school-based protocol for environmental cleaning and disinfection during a pandemic: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Since no specific environmental cleaning instructions and methods have been developed for schools to tackle pandemics, and cleaning methods, this study aims to investigate the feasibility of a new effective school cleaning protocol in reducing the environmental contamination in kindergarten and primary school settings.

Methods: This study implemented a cluster randomized controlled trial with three-arms, namely two intervention arms - groups A and B, and one control arm - group C. The first intervention arm included the cleaning staff who would participate in an educational workshop and be equipped with disposable wipes, while the second arm, group B, participated in the educational workshop only.

Can Flu-Like Absenteeism in Kindergartens Be Reduced Through Hand Hygiene Training for Both Parents and Their Kindergarteners?

Hand hygiene has been found as an effective method to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Parents, however, were found to have inadequate knowledge, reporting skills, and parenting practices related to seasonal influenza. The aim of our study was to investigate if there was any correlation between the flu infection among parents and their kindergarteners and ascertain the effectiveness of using hand hygiene interventions in kindergartens to lower kindergarteners' absenteeism attributable to seasonal flu.

A program to improve the hand hygiene compliance of Hong Kong preschoolers with an insight into their absenteeism.

Background: Hand hygiene prevents cross-infection and is the most effective defense against contagious diseases. Preschoolers, without proper hand hygiene skills, are a vulnerable group to such diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hand hygiene compliance training of preschoolers in Hong Kong improves their hand hygiene knowledge and performance, and whether the training reduces their absenteeism resulting from influenza symptoms.

APSIC guidelines for disinfection and sterilization of instruments in health care facilities.

Background: The Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control launched its revised Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization of Instruments in Health Care Facilities in February 2017. This document describes the guidelines and recommendations for the reprocessing of instruments in healthcare setting. It aims to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist healthcare facilities at Asia Pacific region in achieving high standards in sterilization and disinfection.

APSIC guide for prevention of Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI).

This document is an executive summary of the APSIC Guide for Prevention of Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI). It describes key evidence-based care components of the Central Line Insertion and Maintenance Bundles and its implementation using the quality improvement methodology, namely the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology involving multidisciplinary process and stakeholders. Monitoring of improvement over time with timely feedback to stakeholders is a key component to ensure the success of implementing best practices.

Impact of the first hand sanitizing relay world record on compliance with hand hygiene in a hospital.

Staff of a large hospital in Hong Kong attempted and set the first Guinness World Record for the most participants in a hand sanitizing relay in May 2014. After this event, average compliance with hand hygiene increased from 72% (95% CI, 70%-74%) in 2013 to 85% (95% CI, 83%-87%) in June-July 2014, and the conceptual understanding of good hand hygiene practices improved.

Breaking a Guinness World Record on Hand Sanitizing Relay, initiating a call for vital research in overcoming campaign fatigue for hand hygiene.

Hand hygiene has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing hospital acquired infections for many years. However it is difficult to maintain and enhance compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. In Hong Kong, we previously reported a strategy to counter campaign fatigue from 50%-55% in 2009-11 to 83% in 2012.

Hand hygiene promotion and the participation of infection control link nurses: an effective innovation to overcome campaign fatigue.

Campaign fatigue was evident in a large hospital in Hong Kong when hand hygiene compliance remained just above 50% after 4 years of aggressive and varied promotional activities. A new innovative strategy was developed that directly involved the infection control link nurses both in formulating the strategy and in implementing the various proposed programs. The new strategy was successful in increasing hand hygiene compliance to 83%.

Clinical and nonclinical health care workers faced a similar risk of acquiring 2009 pandemic H1N1 infection.

Reporting of confirmed pandemic influenza A virus (pH1N1) 2009 infection was mandatory among health care workers in Hong Kong. Among 1158 confirmed infections, there was no significant difference in incidence among clinical versus nonclinical staff (relative risk, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.

Natural ventilation for reducing airborne infection in hospitals.

High ventilation rate is shown to be effective for reducing cross-infection risk of airborne diseases in hospitals and isolation rooms. Natural ventilation can deliver much higher ventilation rate than mechanical ventilation in an energy-efficient manner. This paper reports a field measurement of naturally ventilated hospital wards in Hong Kong and presents a possibility of using natural ventilation for infection control in hospital wards.

Impact of laparoscopic colorectal resection on surgical site infection.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) in elective colorectal resection and the strategy for prevention of SSI in modern era of colorectal surgery.

Background: The practice of colorectal surgery has undergone remarkable evolution recently because of application of laparoscopic resection. This could affect SSI in colorectal patients.

Epidemiology and genetic diversity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in residential care homes for elderly persons in Hong Kong.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains among residents in residential care homes for the elderly in Hong Kong.

Design: Cross-sectional and descriptive study.

Participants: A total of 949 residents in 13 residential care homes for elderly persons in Hong Kong in January 2005.

Preparedness for influenza pandemic in Hong Kong nursing units.

Background: To present preparedness planning for an influenza pandemic for two nursing subunits: nursing services in hospitals and schools of nursing in universities.

Discussion: The preparedness plan is modeled on a modified Haddon matrix, a logical approach to identify measures appropriate for the pre-event, event, and postevent phases of an influenza pandemic. For the pre-event phase, the objective is to ensure preparedness for the potential pandemic outbreak through training, communication, surveillance, infection control, and vaccination.

Effective personal protective clothing for health care workers attending patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Background: Optimal usability is crucial in providing protection for health care workers who are exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome day and night while taking care of patients with the virus. No research study has yet tested the usability of personal protective clothing (PPC).

Method: The study was carried out in 3 stages.