title: Fact-finding Survey of Nosocomial Infection Control in Hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepal-A Basis for Improvement.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual conditions of nosocomial infection control in Kathmandu City, Nepal as a basis for the possible contribution to its improvement. The survey was conducted at 17 hospitals and the methods included a questionnaire, site visits and interviews. Nine hospitals had manuals on nosocomial infection control, and seven had an infection control committee (ICC). The number of hospitals that met the required amount of personal protective equipment preparation was as follows: gowns (13), gloves (13), surgical masks (12). Six hospitals had carried out in-service training over the past one year, but seven hospitals responded that no staff had been trained. Eight hospitals were conducting surveillance based on the results of bacteriological testing. The major problems included inadequate management of ICC, insufficient training opportunities for hospital staff, and lack of essential equipment. Moreover, increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics was recognized as a growing issue. In comparison with the results conducted in 2003 targeting five governmental hospitals, a steady improvement was observed, but further improvements are needed in terms of the provision of high quality medical care. Particularly, dissemination of appropriate manuals, enhancement of basic techniques, and strengthening of the infection control system should be given priority.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of International Medical Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Bharat M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pokhrel
authors.forename: Rajan K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dahal
authors.forename: Shyam K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Hari P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kattel
authors.forename: Dharma L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haneishi
authors.forename: Jeevan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sherchand
keywords: Fact finding survey; Kathmandu; Nepal; nosocomial infection control