Abstract：
BACKGROUND: National Strategic Plan to End tuberculosis (TB) in India 2020-2025 aims to prevent the emergence of TB in susceptible populations. Airborne infection control (AIC) practices in high-risk settings like homes for the aged (HFA) will be essential to achieve this.
OBJECTIVE: The objective is to assess the AIC practices (AICPs) in HFA in the Kollam district in Kerala, India.
METHODS: A mixed method approach was used. the study was done in five HFA s in a southern district of Kerala to find AICPs. Using purposive sampling, in-depth interviews was conducted among inmates with recent respiratory infection and administrators. Environmental measures were assessed using an observation checklist.
RESULTS: Ventilation was inadequate in 25%-40% of HFA. Air change per hour and distance between beds were less. Very few inmates were aware of the need for proper ventilation and personal hygiene. Wearing masks and hand hygiene was not practiced. Administrators faced shortages of space, funds, and human resources for caring for hospitalized inmates, and psychiatric and terminally ill patients.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to train the staff and inmates on AIC. Infrastructural improvements, like the use of partition screens in the short term and the creation of model airborne infection control HFA in the long run, with a collaborative effort from health professionals and architects, are needed for TB elimination efforts to succeed.
OBJECTIVE: The objective is to assess the AIC practices (AICPs) in HFA in the Kollam district in Kerala, India.
METHODS: A mixed method approach was used. the study was done in five HFA s in a southern district of Kerala to find AICPs. Using purposive sampling, in-depth interviews was conducted among inmates with recent respiratory infection and administrators. Environmental measures were assessed using an observation checklist.
RESULTS: Ventilation was inadequate in 25%-40% of HFA. Air change per hour and distance between beds were less. Very few inmates were aware of the need for proper ventilation and personal hygiene. Wearing masks and hand hygiene was not practiced. Administrators faced shortages of space, funds, and human resources for caring for hospitalized inmates, and psychiatric and terminally ill patients.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to train the staff and inmates on AIC. Infrastructural improvements, like the use of partition screens in the short term and the creation of model airborne infection control HFA in the long run, with a collaborative effort from health professionals and architects, are needed for TB elimination efforts to succeed.
摘要：
背景：印度2020-2025年终止结核病（TB）的国家战略计划旨在防止易感人群中TB的出现。在高风险环境中的空中感染控制（AIC）实践，如养老院（HFA），对于实现这一目标至关重要。
目标：目标是评估喀拉拉邦Kollam区HFA的AIC实践（AICPs），印度。
方法：采用混合方法。这项研究是在喀拉拉邦南部地区的五个HFA中进行的，目的是寻找AICPs。使用有目的的采样，对最近感染呼吸道的囚犯和管理人员进行了深入访谈。使用观察清单评估环境措施。
结果：25%-40%的HFA患者的通气不足。每小时的空气变化和床之间的距离较小。很少有囚犯知道需要适当的通风和个人卫生。没有戴口罩和手部卫生。管理员面临空间短缺，基金,和照顾住院囚犯的人力资源，精神病和绝症患者.
结论：有必要对工作人员和囚犯进行AIC培训。基础设施改进，比如在短期内使用隔断屏，以及从长远来看创建空气传播感染控制HFA模型，在卫生专业人员和建筑师的共同努力下，是结核病消除努力取得成功所必需的。
目标：目标是评估喀拉拉邦Kollam区HFA的AIC实践（AICPs），印度。
方法：采用混合方法。这项研究是在喀拉拉邦南部地区的五个HFA中进行的，目的是寻找AICPs。使用有目的的采样，对最近感染呼吸道的囚犯和管理人员进行了深入访谈。使用观察清单评估环境措施。
结果：25%-40%的HFA患者的通气不足。每小时的空气变化和床之间的距离较小。很少有囚犯知道需要适当的通风和个人卫生。没有戴口罩和手部卫生。管理员面临空间短缺，基金,和照顾住院囚犯的人力资源，精神病和绝症患者.
结论：有必要对工作人员和囚犯进行AIC培训。基础设施改进，比如在短期内使用隔断屏，以及从长远来看创建空气传播感染控制HFA模型，在卫生专业人员和建筑师的共同努力下，是结核病消除努力取得成功所必需的。
