The Indian government has issued a guideline instructing healthcare persons in Central Government hospitals to remove jewelry below the elbow while on duty in an effort to improve infection control measures. The directive, which goes into effect immediately, covers a wide range of jewelry, such as wristwatches, sacred threads, bangles, bracelets, and rings. In addition, healthcare workers are directed to limit the use of cell phones in specific important areas, like intensive care units, hospital discharge units, post-operative wards, and operating theaters.
The choice was made in spite of worries about pathogens spreading in medical facilities. The Health Ministry mentioned data indicating a possible correlation between an increase in total skin microorganism counts and the wearing of hand jewelry below the elbow. In a similar vein, using a phone while on duty, particularly in busy places, increases the chance of spreading infections.
The Health Ministry's one-page directive places a strong emphasis on maintaining strict infection control procedures and making sure that patients and staff are safe and well. The government hopes to reduce the risk of infection transmission and uphold the highest standards of patient care and hygiene in healthcare institutions by putting these measures into place.
India is one of the nations in the world that has the greatest rate of hospital-associated resistant infections (HARI). With an estimated 136 million HARIs occurring annually worldwide, a recent paper titled "Antimicrobial Resistance: Addressing a Global Threat to Humanity" emphasizes how serious this problem is. Particularly, Pakistan, China, and India collectively carry a large amount of this weight.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major problem for the healthcare system because they raise expenses, lengthen hospital stays, and increase morbidity and mortality. A sizeable portion of the Indian populace receives inpatient treatment at secondary or district-level medical facilities, which are run by the public and private sectors. Unfortunately, a lot of these facilities don't have enough controls in place to prevent and manage infections.
Key barriers to implementing effective infection prevention and control strategies in India include a shortage of dedicated and trained staff, inadequate availability and improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and deficiencies in sanitary and hygiene measures. Patient overcrowding further increases these challenges, making it imperative to improve infection control measures within healthcare settings.
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)