Nosocomial Infections among Earthquake Victims: Precaution and Control / 中华医院感染学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To enhance the healing rate of the wounded victims in earthquake and to do a good job on the nosocomial infection prevention and control according to the feature of the victims. METHODS The advance medical team on the train evaluated thd traumatic condition of the victims and sorted them according to their condition,then the victims with raw surface infection and that with no wound were arranged to the different sections and wards.The cleaning and medical inspection procedure for the victims were formulated.The secretions of their open wound surface with bacterial,fungal and anaerobic culturing at the very beginning were taken when their traumatic condition were examined.The management of wards,attendants and visitors were strengthened,the hand hygiene compliance and the right way to disposal clinical waste the disinfection and sterilization were supervised and directed. RESULTS Most of the 76 victims were with limbs injury,of which 14 victims with open injury,10 got bacterial or fungal infection.The infection rate was 71.43%.Most of them had got combined infection.No Clostridium tetani and C.perfringens were isolated from the secretion of the raw surface.Three victims were complicated with urinary system infection,1 with pulmonary infection and 1 with bed-sore infection after wounded in earthquake.Basing on effective debridement and change dressings,the antibacterial agents were applied according to pathogenic bacteria and the antimicrobial susceptibility test,so the wound surface and general infection were controled effectivelly.Another 35 victims with closed fracture who were operated with internal fixation and reposition after discection in the limited time were not infected. CONCLUSIONS The infection rate of raw surface of victims with open injury is high.Most of the wound surface are infected with some multidrug resistant bacterial and fungi and combined with urinary system infection or pulmonary infection.The nosocomial infections precaution and control should be strengthened to prevent cross infection when treating the victims wounded in earthquake.