Implementation of infection control measures in 88 tuberculosis (TB)-designated hospitals
| Implementation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Infection control measures | N | Per cent |
| Managerial and administrative infection control | ||
| Establishing TB infection control committee | 51 | 58 |
| Setting a TB infection control regulation or plan in the TB clinic/ward | 72 | 82 |
| Pre-employment infection control training for staff | 74 | 84 |
| Job training on TB infection control measures | 60 | 68 |
| Regulations for regular monitoring of TB infection control in high-risk areas (at least quarterly)* | 43 | 49 |
| Regulation for prompt sputum test for patients with TB | 84 | 95 |
| Rapid referral rules for patients with suspected TB | 86 | 97 |
| Provision of expedited priority service to shorten the stay of patients with TB | 37 | 42 |
| Arranging a separate waiting area for suspected patients | 40 | 46 |
| Health education regarding coughing etiquette and respiratory hygiene for patients | 84 | 95 |
| Environmental infection control | ||
| Dedicated TB outpatient waiting area | 68 | 77 |
| Dedicated sputum collection area (well-ventilated area)† | 56 | 64 |
| Separate entrance for healthcare workers in the TB outpatient clinic | 60 | 68 |
| Separate entrance for healthcare workers in the inpatient TB ward‡ | 63 | 85 |
| Regular monitoring of natural and mechanical ventilation (at least quarterly)* | 50 | 57 |
| Daily disinfection of TB outpatient consulting room§ | 85 | 97 |
| Daily disinfection of inpatient TB wards§ | 74 | 100 |
| Daily disinfection of outpatient waiting room§ | 83 | 94 |
| Daily disinfection of sputum collection area§ | 84 | 96 |
| Daily disinfection of radiology department§ | 73 | 83 |
| Personal respiratory protection | ||
| Supplying TB staff with N95 respirators | 85 | 97 |
| Fit testing on N95 respirators | 44 | 50 |
| Staff screening for TB at least annually | 65 | 74 |
| Offering training on TB infection control | 81 | 92 |
| Annual TB infection control knowledge tests for staff | 61 | 69 |
| Regular monitoring of mask wearing among TB staff (at least quarterly) | 75 | 85 |
*According to the China TB infection control manual18 and China's code for design of infectious diseases hospital,19 the infection control measures in the TB clinic should be monitored and meet the requirements in these two regulations.
†A dedicated sputum collection area is where sputum production can be collected in a well-ventilated area.
‡Of all the TB-designated hospitals, only 74 healthcare facilities had inpatient TB wards.
§The disinfection measures by the hospitals complied with the ‘Regulation of disinfection technique in healthcare settings’.20