Implementation of Tuberculosis Infection Control Practices in Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Health Facilities in Kampala District, Uganda, August 2015

BackgroundEffective implementation of Tuberculosis infection control (TB IC) measures in health facilities delivering TB care services is very critical in controlling nosocomial transmission of TB infections among health workers, patients and their attendants. The aim of the study was to assess and document the implementation of TB IC practices in TB diagnostic and treatment health facilities in Kampala District, which accounts for 15-20% of the total TB burden in Uganda. MethodsIn August 2015, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 25 health facilities including 07 Public and 18 Private healthcare facilities in Kampala. We used a modified checklist adopted from the national manual for implementing TB control measures in health care facilities. We reviewed health facility records and where necessary observed TB IC practices to triangulate our findings. We conducted univariate analysis and generated proportions in order to describe the extent of implementation of TB IC measures. ResultsOn average, 73% of both administrative and managerial, 65% environmental, and 56% personal protective TB IC measures were complied with at the health facilities visited. Private health facilities implemented 71% of both administrative and managerial TBIC measures compared to public health facilities (31%). Thirty Six percent of health facilities reported that they were regularly screening health care workers for TB. By Observation, 28% had TB IC guideline, 36% had TB IC plan, 12% had a designated area for sputum collection, 56% were regularly opening windows, 40% had fans installed in the waiting areas and/or consultation rooms and 24% had bio-safety cabinets fitted with UV light. In addition, 60% had N95 respirators but only 32% of the facilities reported that their health workers routinely wore them. ConclusionImplementation of WHO recommended TB IC measures in health facilities delivering TB care services in Kampala was sub optimal. Routine involvement of health facility management as well as increasing human resources for health is critical in implementing easy to do TBIC measures like triaging, patients educating on coughing etiquette and respiratory hygiene and daily window opening particularly in public health care settings where implementation of administrative TB IC measures is wanting