Its goal is to reduce by 50% in 3 years four different types of hospital infections, namely Intubation-Associated Pneumonia (IAP), Vascular Catheter Related Infection (VCRI), Urinary Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) and Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in hip and knee arthroplasty and colorectal surgery.
It started in late 2022 and gathers 21 Portuguese health institutions. Eleven of these 21 institutions have completed a similar program between 2015 and 2018, with excellent results. Thirteen of the 21 institutions are also engaged in the drive-AMS Program.
350 health professionals, mostly doctors and nurses, gathered on the 30 and 31 January to share results, discuss barriers & facilitators and debate on leadership, communication, process analysis and behaviour change. Communication, community, co-production and celebration were the key words, as well as a vivid spirit.
Results so far show that a significant reduction on ICU-acquired infections was attained, suggesting that the goal of 50% reduction will be reached by the end of this year in ICU-acquired IAP, VCRI and CAUTI. However, there is still a way to go before reaching the goal of SSI reduction and further efforts will be conveyed to this specific area in the next months.
drive AMS and STOP-HI share the purpose of a safer environment in hospitals through education and behaviour change. Reducing infections is the most effective and smarter way of reducing antibiotic use.