Oxoid Announces Infection Control Awards

The first prize in the 2004/2005 Oxoid Infection Control Team of the Year Awards was won by Kingston Hospital NHS (National Hospital Service) Trust (Kingston-on-Thames, UK).

In awarding the first prize of U.S.$9,500, the judges commented that this small infection control team showed numerous examples of good practice that could be emulated by others and had a proactive and practical approach. Its successes included reduced infection rates in orthopedic surgery, implementation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease guidance, instigation of an intravenous implementation group to look at improving practices, and hand hygiene audits that have led to raised compliance. The team members' commitment to education and the sharing of knowledge has also produced results, as they held infection-control conferences that have been attended by other hospitals, general practitioners, and healthcare workers.

The second prize of $1,900 went to Sanatorio Adventista del Plata (Entre Rios, Argentina). With very limited resources and support, this infection control team has demonstrated significant improvements in infection prevention and control. The team has taught patients, clinical staff, and visitors about infection prevention and control procedures, written infection-control manuals, and has substantially reduced the rates of nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICUs) and surgical sites.

The third prize of $950 went to a team at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals (Doncaster, UK), whose main challenge is to provide an integrated service across widely spaced locations up to 20 miles apart. The team demonstrated a coordinated approach to microbiologic procedures within the laboratories at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and collaborated with the antibiotic pharmacist and surgeons to produce a unified prescribing policy in orthopedic surgery, with resulting savings and reduced antibiotic selection pressure.

Oxoid (Basingstoke, UK) makes these awards every year. To register for information on how to enter, e-mail Val Kane (val.kane@oxoid.com).




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