The burden of neonatal mortality is primarily borne by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including deaths due to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Few studies have assessed infection prevention and control (IP&C) practices in African units caring for small and/or sick newborns aimed to reduce HAIs. We performed a mixed-methods study composed of a survey and virtual tour to assess IP&C and related practices. We created a survey composed of multiple-choice and open-ended questions delivered to site respondents via Zoom or video equivalent. Respondents provided a virtual tour of their unit via video and the study team used a checklist to evaluate specific practices. We recruited 45 units caring for small and sick newborns in 20 African countries. Opportunities to optimize hand hygiene, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices, Kangaroo Mother Care, and IP&C training were noted. The virtual tour offered further understanding of IP&C challenges unique to individual sites. All respondents expressed the need for additional space, equipment, supplies, education, and IP&C staff and emphasized that attention to maternal comfort was important to IP&C success. This study identified opportunities to improve IP&C practices using low-cost measures including further education and peer support through learning collaboratives. Virtual tours can be used to provide site-specific assessment and feedback from peers, IP&C specialists and environmental engineering experts.

中文翻译：

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非洲新生儿病房的感染预防和控制及相关实践：泛非新生儿护理评估研究（PANCAS）


新生儿死亡率的负担主要由低收入和中等收入国家 (LMIC) 承担，包括因医疗保健相关感染 (HAI) 造成的死亡。很少有研究评估非洲护理机构中旨在减少 HAI 的小型和/或患病新生儿的感染预防和控制 (IP&C) 做法。我们进行了一项由调查和虚拟游览组成的混合方法研究，以评估 IP&C 及相关实践。我们创建了一项由多项选择和开放式问题组成的调查，通过 Zoom 或类似视频发送给现场受访者。受访者通过视频对他们的单位进行了虚拟参观，研究团队使用清单来评估具体做法。我们在 20 个非洲国家招募了 45 个单位来照顾体型较小和患病的新生儿。人们注意到优化手部卫生、水、环境卫生和个人卫生 (WASH) 实践、袋鼠妈妈护理以及 IP&C 培训的机会。虚拟参观让我们进一步了解各个站点特有的 IP&C 挑战。所有受访者均表示需要额外的空间、设备、用品、教育和 IP&C 人员，并强调关注产妇舒适度对于 IP&C 的成功非常重要。这项研究确定了使用低成本措施改进 IP&C 实践的机会，包括通过学习协作进行继续教育和同伴支持。虚拟参观可用于提供同行、IP&C 专家和环境工程专家的特定地点评估和反馈。