title: Implementing systems thinking for infection prevention: The cessation of repeated scabies outbreaks in a respiratory care ward.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Root cause analysis (RCA) is often adopted to complement epidemiologic investigation for outbreaks and infection-related adverse events in hospitals; however, RCA has been argued to have limited effectiveness in preventing such events. We describe how an innovative systems analysis approach halted repeated scabies outbreaks, and highlight the importance of systems thinking for outbreaks analysis and sustaining effective infection prevention and control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following RCA for a third successive outbreak of scabies over a 17-month period in a 60-bed respiratory care ward of a Taiwan hospital, a systems-oriented event analysis (SOEA) model was used to reanalyze the outbreak. Both approaches and the recommendations were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No nosocomial scabies have been reported for more than 1975 days since implementation of the SOEA. Previous intervals between seeming eradication and repeat outbreaks following RCA were 270 days and 180 days. Achieving a sustainable positive resolution relied on applying systems thinking and the holistic analysis of the system, not merely looking for root causes of events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve the effectiveness of outbreaks analysis and infection control, an emphasis on systems thinking is critical, along with a practical approach to ensure its effective implementation. The SOEA model provides the necessary framework and is a viable complementary approach, or alternative, to RCA.
authors: Health Policy and Care Research Center, School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan. Electronic address: sheuwen@tmu.edu.tw.
authors: Sheuwen
authors: S
authors: Chuang
authors: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences/Statistics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors: Peter P
authors: PP
authors: Howley
authors: Department of Infection Control, Taipei Hospital Ministry of Health and Welfare, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Hua
authors: SH
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D012532:Scabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013597:Systems Analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Health care–associated infection; Root-cause analysis; Scabies outbreak; Systems thinking; Systems-oriented event analysis