Soroka University Medical Center of the Clalit Group has continued to lead and excel in the prevention of acquired infections even during the COVID-19 period. For several years in a row, the rate of resistant bacterial infections acquired at the hospital has been the lowest among the major hospitals in Israel by a significant margin.
The annual report of the Ministry of Health summarizes the findings regarding acquired antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, which are continuously monitored at Israeli hospitals.
The data show that the rate of patients infected with so-called "alert" (pathogens that produce antibiotic-resistant mechanisms) bacteria at Soroka is the lowest—66.4 per 100,000 days of hospitalization—the best figure among the supercenters by a significant margin. Soroka is the leading large medical center in terms of other Ministry of Health measures as well.
These data comprise a tool for comparative evaluation of the hospitals' success in curbing the spread of bacteria and preventing morbidity.
Prof. Avraham Borer, Director of the Infection Prevention Unit at Soroka: "Our achievement requires all staff members at the medical center to be meticulous regarding infection prevention processes. Infection prevention requires excellence on the part of everyone involved in treatment in terms of hand hygiene, optimal disinfection and cleaning of the patient unit and equipment, food preparation, air conditioning, medicine preparation, and more. Alongside these, monitoring and follow-up, drawing conclusions, and improving work processes, which intensified during the COVID-19 period, especially in the fifth wave, are required."
Dr. Shlomi Codish, director general of Soroka University Medical Center: "Infection prevention is one of the greatest challenges in health systems in Israel and around the world. Adherence to these work processes by the staff of the medical center is what has brought Soroka to a low rate of acquired antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections compared to the largest hospitals in Israel and further improvement compared to last year. This work and the fact that these achievements have been maintained over the years are the results of the professionalism and leadership of the Infection Prevention Unit at Soroka, headed by Prof. Avraham Borer and Ronit Nativ, who guide and promote infection prevention processes while implementing procedures and increasing awareness among staff members throughout the hospital."
