In developing countries, it may be difficult to survey for nosocomial infections (NI). Moreover, a structure- based rather than internationally recommended infection prevention and control (IPC) programs are more applicable. IPC practice surveillance could be an additional or substituent survey. The current work describes the development of a measurable and updated tool for surveillance of IPC practices which we called “Ranked IPC Audit Check- Lists (RIPCACL)” and to evaluate their use for tailoring IPC programs in two hospitals in Egypt. The development addressed; first IPC procedures and second the needed resources. The check- lists were rendered measurable through a simple scoring system. They were used twice in two university hospitals. The first time was to capture a base- line IPC practice level, so IPC programs were tailored. The second was for monitoring and evaluation. The first implementation determined the practice levels in the two hospitals and identified the problematic areas. Further analyses of individual check list revealed the exact causes of trifling levels. Two IPC programs were tailored and implemented. Second implementation identified areas that could be upgraded and those which remained in a need for interventions. RIPCACL were convenient, flexible and easily applicable. They can be used in similar settings. | A simple tool for infection prevention and control practice surveillance: Development and use for designing feasible programs in E gyptian hospitals
