RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Establishing a Standardized Surveillance System for Health Care-Associated Infections in Vietnam
JF Global Health: Science and Practice
JO GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT
FD Johns Hopkins University- Global Health. Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs
SP e2100284
DO 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00284
VO 10
IS 3
A1 Coker, Daniella
A1 Phuong, Ha Thi Kim
A1 Nguyen, Lan Thi Phong
A1 Ninh, Tran
A1 Gupta, Neil
A1 Ha, Tran Thi Thu
A1 Truong, Nguyen Tuan
A1 Van Thanh, Hoang
A1 Vasquez, Amber
A1 Bui, Hien Thi Thu
A1 Malpiedi, Paul
YR 2022
UL http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/10/3/e2100284.abstract
AB Key FindingsMaintaining stakeholder investment in establishing the foundation for Vietnam's national health care-associated infections (HAI) surveillance system will be key for its growth and longevity.Developing HAI surveillance protocols that could be applied consistently across surveillance hospitals based on the local context to ensure the quality of data generated by the surveillance system was critical to the surveillance system's success.Focusing initial implementation of standardized HAI surveillance in select intensive care units of 6 hospitals allowed challenges to be addressed and corrected and ensured the long-term sustainability of surveillance in the hospital.Key ImplicationsNational authorities should consider engaging stakeholders, designating roles and responsibilities, developing context-sensitive, standardized surveillance protocols, creating a surveillance implementation strategy, and linking HAI surveillance and prevention activities when developing HAI surveillance systems in low- and middle-income countries to increase the likelihood of successful surveillance implementation.Standardized surveillance for health care-associated infections (HAI) is critical to understand HAI burden and inform prevention strategies at a national level. Due to differing and generally limited resources in Vietnam's health care facilities, implementation of HAI surveillance has been variable and data quality has not been systematically assessed. In 2016, the Vietnam Administration for Medical Services (VAMS) under the Ministry of Health, with the support of partners, began to establish a context-appropriate, standardized HAI surveillance system for bloodstream infections (BSI) and urinary tract infections (UTI) among 6 pilot hospitals in Vietnam. We identified 5 key elements of our HAI surveillance implementation process that have been conducive to ensuring data quality and program sustainability and scalability. These include: (1) engaging stakeholders, (2) designating roles and responsibilities, (3) developing context-sensitive, standardized surveillance protocols, (4) creating a surveillance implementation strategy, and (5) linking HAI surveillance and prevention activities. With the active participation of infection prevention and control staff from the 6 pilot hospitals, standardized HAI surveillance for BSIs and UTIs was expanded to 12 additional hospitals in 2019. Together, VAMS and partners are helping Vietnam fulfill its commitment to safe health care for all patients.