Abstract:
The assessment of an audit-feedback instrument (AFI)
for infection prevention and control was conducted on a
population of South African oral health care facilities, mainly
to test its workability in the varied facility configurations.
A purposive selection strategy was followed, selecting
50 South African oral health care facilities. Results from
49 completed AFIs revealed demographic details and
information on infection prevention and control practices
for the 11 AFI focus areas: Administrative controls;
personnel protection controls; environmental- and work
controls; surface contamination management; equipment
maintenance; air- and waterline management; personal
protective equipment usage; personal- and hand hygiene
practices; sterilisation practices; sharps handling and
waste management. None of the participating facilities
demonstrated 100% compliance. Notably, administrative
controls and air- and waterline management scored
the lowest mean values; 31% and 36% respectively,
while personal- and hand hygiene practices and waste
management performed the best, at respectively 75%
and 63%. The general lack of compliance with infection
prevention and control precautions in the participating oral
health care facilities clearly poses a safety hazard to patients
and oral health care workers. These findings demonstrate
the urgent need for a monitoring system, such as the AFI, to
be instituted in South African oral health care facilities.
