At MicroGO, we have always maintained that to achieve a global impact, we have to start making a difference locally. We work tirelessly to do our bit by helping #India achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs (#sdgs2030 ) by 2030. One of our focuses is goal no. 3 which is "Good Health and Well-being".
Fig 2 Trends of HAIs and HHC pre- and post-Covid outbreak
We specifically work toward prevention technologies that provide you with the right science. For example, the experts will appreciate the difference between 99.99 % and 99% disinfection or microbial killing. Microbes grow exponentially, so when you have a 99% result versus the desired 99.99%, the impact is severe in #healthcare . Not following the right science not only gives you inadequate pathogen killing but also the threat of exposing the microbes to concentrations below the MIC, or minimal inhibitory concentrations, which is also one reason that microbes achieve AMR (#amr), or antimicrobial resistance. That brings us to the even larger issue of AMR (which is not a silent pandemic anymore!). AMR impacts the achievements of several of the 17 SDGs, in particular, SDG 3 (Document number: WHO/EURO:2020-1634-41385-56394). The 2030 agenda for SDG 3 is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio, the neonatal mortality ratio, and the risk of communicable diseases. Our work towards this goal includes implementing core components for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare facilities. Another main challenge we continue to tackle is the increasing level of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). According to a recent report by the ICMR, superbugs (multidrug-resistant microbes, or MDROs) accounted for 73.3% of bloodstream infections and 53.1% of UTI infections in ICUs (TOI, September 11, 2022). A report from the WHO was released stating that 70% of #infections can be prevented by good #handhygiene practices (WHO, 6 May 2022). If a healthcare worker performs the five moments of hand hygiene, the risk of HAIs can be reduced to a much greater extent. Fig. 2 above depicts a dip in HAIs (#hais) with a simultaneous increase in hand hygiene compliance pre- and post-COVID (Roshan et al, 2020). Our offering in the GOassureTM LITE series assures good hand hygiene practices at each opportunity and electronically captures hand hygiene compliance at the individual/department level and displays the same on a dashboard for the ICNs or HICC to keep compliance in check on a real-time basis. It has been two years since COVID, but the necessity of hygiene has not yet been met. This will only be possible when each of us inculcates good hygiene practices as a habit instead of a mere practice. These small changes will impact humankind in every way. If AMR remains unchecked, the human toll will rise. It is a high-stakes game of Jenga: if antibiotics fail, we will assuredly fall short of attaining SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) (IISD, October 22, 2019).
Acknowledgment: My colleague, Jemimah Daniel for all the help.
References:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/38-of-superbug-infected-icu-patients-die-in-14-days-study/articleshow/94123982.cms
https://www.who.int/news/item/06-05-2022-who-launches-first-ever-global-report-on-infection-prevention-and-control
Roshan R, Feroz AS, Rafique Z, Virani N. Rigorous Hand Hygiene Practices Among Health Care Workers Reduce Hospital-Associated Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2020;11. doi:10.1177/2150132720943331
WHO/EURO:2020-1634-41385-56394 - https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org
Link: https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/tracking-antimicrobial-resistance-in-the-sustainable-development-goals/