Infection control reduces mortality rate in cancer treatment

Colorectal cancer incidence rates increase by 5-7% per year

At the beginning of January 2016, Ms. L. had a serious abdominal pain that was like a woman in labor, so she went to a clinic near her house. The doctor prescribed abdominal ultrasound and the result revealed that her large intestine was compressed. Taking medicine for two days as prescribed, she felt relieved but when she stopped taking the medication, the pain returned. The disease did not go away even when she took Herbal Medicine, so she was so worried that she went to a clinic in Ho Chi Minh City to take clinical tests. She was then diagnosed with colorectal cancer and was transferred to Oncology Hospital.

According to the data from GLOBOCAN (Global Cancer Recognition Report), in 2018, there were more than 14,700 new cases of colorectal cancer found in Vietnam and colorectal cancer incidence rates increase to 5 -7% each year in Ho Chi Minh City alone.

According to Do Minh Hung MD Ph. D of American International Hospital (AIH) in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, the incidence rates of gastrointestinal cancer in Asian countries are higher than in other continents. This is probably because Asians have the habits of eating salted dishes such as pickles and a lot of barbecue... This diet is considered as one of the risk factors for diseases.

In addition, people having the habits of smoking, heavy drinking and low-fiber diet are also in the risk groups for gastrointestinal cancer.

Concern for cross-infection caused by patient overload

Controlling infection in hospitals is a major challenge for the healthcare sector due to overcrowding.

The statistics of infection control in the hospitals according to World Health Organization (WHO) is in every 100 hospitalized patients, there are 7 new cases of infection, while the number of infection types in hospitals has reached up to 50.  Infection Control plays an extremely important role specially in treatment of gastrointestinal cancer surgeries before, during and after surgical procedure.

"After a long operation, Surgical Site Infection (SSI) or infection in the wound will take place if the care post-operatively is not good enough. The pre-operative and intra-operative care take a big role also in prevention of wound infection. Consequently, the treatment period will be longer and the medical costs as well as the risk of death will also increase.”, said Do Minh Hung MD Ph.D., Head of General Surgery Department, American International Hospital (AIH).

Do Minh Hung MD Ph.D. prepares for the surgery based on infection control process at American International Hospital (AIH)

Dr. Hung further analyzed, for complicated cancer surgeries that last for about three hours, the likelihood of pneumonia will increase. If hospitals do not guarantee infection control, severe inflammation is very likely to occur.

Good infection control saves treatment costs

Also according to Do Minh Hung MD Ph.D., hospitals need to have teams specialized in infection control systems and can apply international standards. For example, American International Hospital (AIH) is strictly complying infection control chapter following Joint Commission International (JCI) Standards from US. Not only for accreditation by the organization but to ensure patient safety. When there is any case with signs of infection, the doctor will immediately transfer the patient to an Isolation precaution room. In addition, treatment must follow the antibiotic treatment process. Antibiotics should only be used before for prophylaxis use and after surgeries depending on the disease and in case there are postoperative signs of infection. Patients will not have the "weapons" to fight diseases if antibiotics are used too much after a period of time.

Infection control in cancer surgery at AIH is strictly performed by medical experts in accordance with American standards.

In order to build a "non-antibiotic department", hospitals must first succeed in building IC (Infection Control) process and controlling the quality of air, water, surgical equipment, medical instruments, and hospital linen... In this case, most patients taking surgeries only need to use a few or even no prophylactic antibiotics. Therefore, the cost of antibiotics is greatly reduced, while the cost of antibiotics alone can be up to hundreds of million if patients are cross-infected due to ineffective infection prevention in hospitals.

Ensuring infection control during a surgery following IC (Infection Control) process at American International Hospital (AIH)

In 2018, the Ministry of Health issued a circular regulating infection control in hospitals and the newly established healthcare centers also start to focus on preventing infection in hospitals, although they still have a long journey ahead to reach their targets.

Bring medical services with American Standard in Vietnam

American International Hospital (AIH) in District 2, HCMC, comprehensively applies JCI standards and American standards in design and construction, examination and treatment, management and administration to bring patients comprehensive health care that is in accordance with American standards right in Vietnam. Currently, AIH receives direct support and technical advice from the leading professors in Gastroenterology - Hepatology and General Surgery from the leading American medical systems - Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Dignity Health International and prestigious universities such as Stanford University in America.

From 2^nd of April to 15^th of May, Tuoi Tre Newspaper conducts counseling activity on treatment of gastrointestinal (esophagus, stomach, colorectal, anus) cancer with the technical support from American International Hospital’s experts and doctors. Readers can ask questions online on TTO here or send emails to suckhoe@tuoitre.com.vn.

Especially, the first 500 readers to submit the questions will be given a preferential card covering 01 free medical check-up that is worth VND 690,000 and 5% discount on the next single service (*) at American International Hospital (AIH) in District 2, HCMC.