Are healthcare workers safe? Facility assessment of airborne infection control measures in public hospitals of Kerala
Globally airborne infections remain an occupational risk for healthcare workers.1-5 Reports of infectious outbreaks such as influenza, H1N1, drug-susceptible and multidrugresistant tuberculosis among healthcare workers are alarming. Most of them can be attributed to poor adherence to infection control practices.6,7 However in developing countries like India, there is no data to project the magnitude of this important public health problem. During May 2018, State of Kerala witnessed an outbreak of Nipahvirus (NiV) infection in Kozhikode district which resulted in death of 17 persons out of the 19 infected. Two healthcare personals who were directly involved in care of NiV patients got infected; one survived and the other succumbed to death.8,9 This scenario has triggered the necessity of a proactive health care system, not only for the beneficiaries but also for the healthcare providing community.
Even though there are guidelines available at national and state level to curb airborne infections in hospitals, there is no mechanism at present to ensure its adherence. The efforts made by the public health wing of Kerala health services in containing the infection during Nipah outbreak were exemplary. However it exposes the existing gaps in the infection control measures followed by the health facilities in public sector.
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