De-implementation of performing a final disinfection for respiratory viruses
Research and the recently revised national guideline indicate that disinfection after cleaning rooms following the admission of people with a viral respiratory infection in healthcare facilities is not necessary. However, some Dutch healthcare facilities still perform disinfection. It remains unclear which de-implementation strategies can support the discontinuation of terminal disinfection in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.
This project is a follow-up to the ENVI-GO-PAN project, which started in 2023.
Goal
Our objectives are to map factors that influence the process of abolishing disinfection and select possible suitable de-implementation strategies for this. We operationalize these strategies together with stakeholders and develop and disseminate a de-implementation strategy that fits the barriers and context of nursing homes in the Netherlands.
This way, we offer substantiated support to those responsible in nursing homes for the de-implementation of disinfection of rooms after admission of patients with a respiratory virus infection.
Approach
We map determinants that influence the methods of cleaning and disinfection of spaces and the de-implementation process with a rapid literature study and questionnaires supplemented with interviews. We then link these determinants to constructs of the CFIR framework and select possible suitable implementation strategies with the CFIR-ERIC tool. Together with stakeholders we choose and operationalize the most suitable de-implementation strategies. We then design a strategy to disseminate these de-implementation strategies by means of educational material and a logical model.
Collaboration partners
In this project, specialists in the field of clinical microbiology, epidemiology, infection prevention and implementation work together, combining scientific expertise with implementation skills. With this strong and balanced team, we can optimally contribute to achieving the project goals and at the same time create a sustainable impact.
Co-applicants of the ENVI-GO-PAN project act as a sounding board and will think along and advise.
(Expected) Results
The results of this project are expected at the end of 2025. De-implementation products are educational material and tools, (e.g. flyer or webinar), designed to aid infection prevention professionals or other parties who advise nursing homes on infection prevention. A logic model will be created and serves as a visual representation of our hypotheses on how this developed de-implementation strategy works. It provides a starting point for monitoring the expected results. A process evaluation is not within the possibilities of this project. Ownership for the execution of the actual de-implementation will lie with the nursing homes after this VIMP project.