Infection Prevention and Control Policy in Obstetric HDU and ICU

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) remain a major cause of morbidity, mortality and excess healthcare costs. HAI contribute a considerable cost to the healthcare system, as well as to patients and their families with prolonged hospital stays, readmissions and additional diagnostic tests and treatment. Obstetric units are not an exception. Most infections are caused by the microorganisms of the mothers’ vaginal flora. In India, the scenario of high-risk delivery unit (HDU) development is fast catching up and after initiatives, promotion, education and training programmes. There has been stupendous growth in this area but much needs to be done in area of infrastructure, human resource development, protocol, guidelines formation and research which are relevant to Indian circumstances. An acceptable and logistically feasible zero compromise can be made on quality healthcare delivery, yet acceptable guidelines can be adopted for making HDU designing. Guidelines which may be good for both rural and urban areas as also for smaller and tertiary centres which may include teaching and non-teaching institutes are required. The major obstetric indications for admission in tertiary units were septicaemia (35.08 %) [1].