title: Tuberculosis infection control in health facilities in Lithuania: lessons learnt from a capacity support project.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) infection control (IC) is key in controlling TB transmission in health facilities in Lithuania. This article presents a project that aimed at supporting health care facilities in Lithuania in implementing TB-IC. The project consisted of 1) facility TB-IC assessments, 2) development of facility TB-IC plans, 3) TB-IC training and 4) site visits. We assessed the impact of these activities through a self-assessment questionnaire. The project resulted in limited improvements. Most progress was seen in administrative and managerial activities. Possible reasons for the limited improvements are challenges with funding and the lack of supportive legislation and a national TB-IC plan.
authors.affiliation: TBC Consult, Drachten, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turusbekova
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Solna, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ljungqvist
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis Hospital, affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davidavičiene
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis Hospital, affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikaityte
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Solna, Sweden.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van der Werf
keywords: facility plan; infection control; site visit; training; tuberculosis