Thirteen years later: Post-surgery infections down by 60% at ATH

Improvement seen after autoclaves which sterilise equipment repaired

ABBOTABAD:

Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad recently repaired two of its long out-of-order digital autoclave machines. Autoclaves are used to sterilise surgical instruments and hospital equipment.

“This has reduced post-surgery infection rate by 60%,” ATH Director Dr Siddique Rehman said while talking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

He said three digital autoclaves, costing Rs10 million each, broke down in 2003. “They were dumped in storerooms for 13 years, forcing the staff in operation theatres to rely on out-dated manual autoclaves,” he said.



Rehman added two of the machines are now operational while the third was being repaired. The doctor reiterated the efficacy of the machines was what helped reduce hospital-acquired post-surgery infection rate by 60%.

The heart of it

He told The Express Tribune, the machine that helps performing angiography for cardiac patients was also repaired.

“This machine had been lying out of order for the last two years,” he added. Over 30 angiographies were conducted in the last two months. “Now, angioplasty, which is an expensive treatment, will be provided to patients at ATH as well,” Rehman said.



About improving facilities at ATH, the hospital director said the seven-member board of governors has already approved the appointment of the medical director, finance director, director for nursing and the dean of Ayub Medical College. The appointment of junior and senior registrars at each of the wards was also approved by the BoG. The hiring of 100 medical officers, 100 nurses, support staff, director for human resource management and deputy director for procurement cell was also approved.  The process of hiring will be completed by April 23.

Rehman said following the government’s policy, ATH is providing free medication to patients at the casualty and gynaecology departments as well as hospital’s coronary care unit (CCU) and intensive care unit (ICU). “However, the cost of providing free medication is a pinch, a burden on the departments,” Rehman said. The evening OPD was facilitating 250 to 300 patients daily while the day-time OPD had an influx of patients that ranged between 2,000 to 2,500, he added.



About recent strikes at the hospital, Rehman said disciplinary action taken against doctors, paramedical and support staff for their conduct led to an uproar.

He further disclosed the government’s plan to account for attendance using biometric machines had yet to be implemented. “The staff does not approve of the system and is resisting it,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2016.