Title

Impact of Electronic Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Software on Infection Prevention Resources: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Authors

Philip L. Russo, Avondale College of Higher EducationFollow
Ramon Shaban, Griffith University - AustraliaFollow
Deborough MacBeth, Gold Coast HospitalFollow
Abigail Carter, Avondale College of Higher EducationFollow
Brett G. Mitchell, Avondale College of Higher EducationFollow

Author Faculty (Discipline)

Nursing

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2018

Publication Details

This article was originally published as:

Russo, P. L., Shaban, R. Z., MacBeth, D., Carter, A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2018). Impact of electronic healthcare associated infection surveillance software on infection prevention resources: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Hospital Infection, 99(1), 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.09.002.

ISSN: 0195-6701

ANZSRC / FoR Code

100499 Medical Biotechnology not elsewhere classified| 111002 Clinical Nursing: Primary (Preventative)| 111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety| 111716 Preventive Medicine

Avondale Research Centre

Lifestyle Research Centre

Reportable Items

C1

Abstract

Background

Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections is fundamental for infection prevention. The methods and practices for surveillance have evolved as technology becomes more advanced. The availability of electronic surveillance software (ESS) has increased, and yet adoption of ESS is slow. It is argued that ESS deliver savings through automation, particularly in terms of human resourcing and infection prevention (IP) staff time.

Aim

This paper describes the findings of a systematic review on the impact of ESS on IP resources.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted of electronic databases Medline and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature published between 1st January 2006 and 31^st December 2016 with analysis using Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.

Findings

2832 articles were reviewed of which 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. IP resources were identified as time undertaken on surveillance. A reduction in IP staff time to undertake surveillance was demonstrated in 13 studies. The reduction proportion ranged from 12.5% - 98.4% (mean 73.9%). The remaining three did not allow for any estimation of the effect in terms of IP staff time. None of the studies demonstrated an increase in IP staff time.

Conclusion

The results of this review demonstrate that adopting ESS yield considerable dividends in IP staff time relating to data collection and case ascertainment whilst maintaining high levels of sensitivity and specificity. This has the potential to enable reinvestment into other components of IP to maximise efficient use of scare IP resources.

Comments

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© 2017 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This article may be accessed from the publisher here.

Recommended Citation

Russo, P. L., Shaban, R. Z., MacBeth, D., Carter, A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2017). Impact of electronic healthcare associated infection surveillance software on infection prevention resources: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Hospital Infection, 99(1), 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.09.002.