Ethan Rhodes
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes clinically applicable and scientifically authoritative research on the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions. The journal utilises an Online Peer Review Service (OPRS) for submissions and covers major topics such as infection control practices, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, cost-benefit analyses, and regulatory issues. It serves as a critical forum for information exchange, providing original scientific articles for professionals involved in infection control or epidemiology programs in healthcare facilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
| Journal name | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology |
| Major topics covered | Infection control practices, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, cost-benefit analyses, resource use, occupational health, and regulatory issues |
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What You'll Learn
Clinically applicable research
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes clinically applicable research. Clinically applicable research can be defined as research that can be applied in clinical practice. In the context of Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, clinically applicable research involves the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions, as well as the use of epidemiological principles to improve the delivery of care.
The journal covers a range of topics, including infection control practices, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, cost-benefit analyses, resource use, occupational health, and regulatory issues. These topics are relevant to the field of infection control and hospital epidemiology and have direct applications in clinical settings.
For example, research on infection control practices can inform the development and implementation of protocols to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections. Surveillance and monitoring of infectious diseases can help identify outbreaks early and guide public health interventions. Antimicrobial stewardship is crucial in optimizing the use of antibiotics and addressing the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Cost-benefit analyses and resource use evaluations ensure that healthcare institutions can make informed decisions about allocating resources effectively while considering the potential impact on patient outcomes.
Occupational health is another critical aspect, focusing on protecting healthcare workers from occupational hazards and ensuring their health and well-being. Regulatory issues are also addressed, ensuring that healthcare institutions comply with relevant laws and regulations to maintain quality and safety standards.
The clinical applicability of research in this journal is enhanced by its scientific authority and peer-review process. The journal utilizes an Online Peer Review Service (OPRS) to ensure the quality and validity of the published research. By publishing clinically applicable, peer-reviewed research, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology contributes to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of infection control and hospital epidemiology.
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Transmission of pathogens
The journal "Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology" publishes clinically applicable, peer-reviewed research on the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions.
Pathogens can be transmitted in healthcare institutions via direct or indirect contact, through the air, or a combination of both. Contact transmission forms the majority of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) cases, but airborne transmission is harder to control.
Respiratory droplets containing microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses can be transmitted through the air and spread infectious diseases. These droplets can be generated from the upper or lower respiratory tract, mouth, nose, and other sources such as vomiting, dripping water taps, and diarrhea.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) can be asymptomatic carriers of pathogens and unintentionally spread infections to patients. Proper hand hygiene and standard precautions are essential to preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. Immunization is also crucial, especially for specific infectious agents like the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HCWs with active HBV infections or those who are carriers are at risk of transmitting the virus to others, and the risk of HBV transmission is higher than that of hepatitis C or HIV.
In the case of norovirus, HCWs can become infected by patients and vice versa. Infected HCWs may show no symptoms initially but can suddenly become ill and spread the virus through vomiting. Isolation of patients and prompt removal of symptomatic HCWs from the workplace are essential to controlling norovirus outbreaks.
Engineering sciences play a crucial role in mitigating airborne pathogen transmission. Adequate ventilation is key, as it helps dilute and control the movement of airborne pathogens.
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Epidemiological principles
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes clinically applicable and scientifically authoritative research on the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions. It also covers the use of epidemiological principles and methods to improve the delivery of care.
The word epidemiology comes from the Greek words epi, demos, and logos, which translate to "on or upon", "people", and "study of", respectively. Thus, epidemiology can be defined as the study of what befalls a population.
Epidemiology is concerned with the frequency and pattern of health events in a population. It is data-driven and relies on a systematic and unbiased approach to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Basic epidemiological methods involve careful observation and the use of valid comparison groups to assess whether the number of observed cases of a disease differs from what might be expected. For example, the frequency of disease refers to the number of cases of a disease in a population, such as meningitis or diabetes, and the relationship of that number to the size of the population. The resulting rate allows epidemiologists to compare disease occurrence across different populations.
The pattern of disease refers to the occurrence of health-related events by time, place, and person. Time patterns can be annual, seasonal, weekly, daily, or even hourly. For instance, an annual pattern may refer to the flu season, which typically occurs during the colder months.
An important epidemiological concept is that neither health nor disease occurs randomly throughout populations. There are innumerable factors that influence the occurrence of disease, and these factors can be biological, economic, social, or behavioral. For example, the presence of other sexually transmitted infections can increase the risk of HIV transmission. Additionally, the occurrence of disease is often described in terms of endemicity, epidemics, outbreaks, and pandemics. A disease is considered endemic when it is constantly present within a given geographic area, such as rabies in animals in the US. An epidemic occurs when a disease occurs in larger numbers than expected in a given population and geographic area, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The population at risk refers to the members of the overall population capable of developing the disease or condition of interest. For example, in a study of ovarian cancer among animals, only female animals should be included in the population at risk. Misinterpretations of the population at risk can lead to erroneous study results and conclusions.
In summary, epidemiological principles provide the foundation for directing practical and appropriate public health actions. By studying the distribution and determinants of health-related states in specified populations, epidemiologists can apply this knowledge to control health problems and improve the delivery of care.
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Infection control practices
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes clinically applicable and scientifically authoritative research on the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions. The journal covers major topics, including infection control practices, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, cost-benefit analyses, resource use, and occupational health.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a critical aspect of healthcare systems, aiming to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases and ensure patient safety. Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices that should be used when providing care to all patients, regardless of their apparent infectious status. These include hand hygiene, sharps safety, cleaning and disinfection, respiratory hygiene, and waste disposal. Hand hygiene is a crucial component, involving either handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR).
Healthcare professionals must adhere to strict hygiene protocols, such as using personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfecting surfaces, and following infection control measures. This includes covering the mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing, proper waste disposal, and dedicated toilets with vomit bowls to reduce the spread of infections.
Injection safety is another critical aspect of infection control practices. Health care personnel should strictly adhere to recommendations on injection safety, including the use of new needles and syringes for each injection and medication vials for single clients whenever possible.
In addition to standard precautions, transmission-based precautions are utilized when standard measures alone are insufficient to prevent communicable disease transmission. These precautions are tailored to the specific mode of transmission of a particular disease. Healthcare professionals must also receive regular training on infection control and bloodborne pathogen control to effectively implement these practices.
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Surveillance
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes clinically applicable and scientifically authoritative research on the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions. It also covers the use of epidemiological principles and methods to improve the delivery of care.
There are various methods and technologies used for surveillance in infection control. These include manual and electronic surveillance systems, with the latter becoming increasingly prevalent due to its efficiency and ability to handle large amounts of data. Automated surveillance systems, for example, can utilize control charts and statistical algorithms to identify potential outbreaks and clusters of infections. This technology can improve the speed and accuracy of surveillance, allowing for more effective infection control practices.
The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system, introduced in 1986, is an example of a surveillance program that provides institutions with the flexibility to tailor their surveillance to local needs while contributing data to a national database. Surveillance data can also be used to develop meaningful infection rates, identify new infection control priorities, and assess progress toward specific prevention objectives.
However, there are challenges in surveillance for infection control. For instance, overestimating infection rates based on weak evidence can undermine feedback efforts to physicians. Therefore, it is important to validate surveillance efforts with high-quality research studies and compare the sensitivity and specificity of methods used against a "gold standard," such as a review by an infectious diseases physician.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology is a peer-reviewed journal.
The journal publishes clinically applicable, scientifically authoritative, and peer-reviewed research on the control and evaluation of pathogen transmission in healthcare institutions.
Major topics covered include infection control practices, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, cost-benefit analyses, resource use, occupational health, and regulatory issues.
The editor is David P. Calfee, MD, MS.
The journal can be accessed on Cambridge Core and JSTOR.
