In 2018, the University of Pécs received a support of about 189 million HUF for the complex improvement of patient safety. A significant part, more than 93 percent of the support received in the frame of the EFOP-2.2.18-17 tender has been used to expand the infection control equipment of the Clinical Center, the remaining amount has been used to finance the costs of the implementation of the project.
One of the very important elements of patient safety in healthcare is infection control, i.e. intervention activities for the prevention of hospital infections performed by hospital hygiene departments at the hospital level, based on the knowledge and analysis of the factors involved in the development of healthcare-associated infections.
The equipment purchased in the frame of the project contributed a great deal to the safe patient care of the Clinical Center during the coronavirus outbreak as well. We can also say that the development implemented with the help of the tender was a “visionary” step because in the middle of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the time of the project closure, the equipment purchased in the frame of the project was indispensable for the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
In addition to the Clinical Center Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, the six products purchased in a public procurement procedure have also significantly improved the equipment of the Department of Hospital Hygiene.
Another device made it possible to clean and disinfect the hot water supply system of the Rákóczi and Rét Street sites even more safely. The total value of the equipment purchases exceeded 176 million HUF.
The equipment provided to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology is primarily used to strengthen the Department's Bacteriology and Hospital Hygiene Laboratory and to develop molecular microbiological tests. With the help of the significantly modernized diagnostic instrumentation, the detection of pathogens has become more effective, clinicians can get the microbiological diagnoses faster, and thus they can start the medication of the patient sooner.
In addition to the beneficial effect that directly affects patient safety, i.e. the speed of obtaining a diagnostic result, the project has also significantly improved the efficiency of the epidemiological work of the department. In the frame of the epidemiological activity of the department, patient, staff and environment screenings can also be performed with modern methods, during which the common origin of infections can be revealed based on the genetic comparison and typing of different pathogens. In addition, the modern storage of microbes and the equipment purchased for the protection of the staff also serve patient safety.
The equipment purchased for the Department of Hospital Hygiene includes several automatic hand sanitizers that provide the possibility of hand disinfection for patients in the hospital and for visitors, as well as systems that improve the efficiency and adequacy of the disinfection of the rooms.
The further implementation of the project's goals will be ensured by another tender support. UP won an additional 58 million HUF in the EFOP-1.8.21-18 tender scheme titled “Practical implementation of infection control activities in institutions providing inpatient care”. Its implementation will begin in September.
Source:
PTE