MAKKAH: A seminar organized by the Department for Combating Infections and Centralized Sterilization at the Health Affairs Directorate in Makkah stressed the need for adopting the latest techniques to prevent medical workers contracting and spreading infectious diseases.
The seminar with the theme “Fundamental Principles of Combating Infections” was held with the collaboration of Hira General Hospital at the hospital’s conference hall yesterday.
Dr. Abdul Fattah Attiyah of Noor Specialist Hospital said that thorough washing and cleaning of hands by medical workers after handling patients suffering from infections was a sure method of minimizing the risk of contracting and spreading diseases.
Dr. Waleed Hussein, the director of the automation program at Hira Hospital, and senior officials of the health directorate were present at the seminar with 280 doctors and nurses attending.
Dr. Sayyed Zahid Al-Bukhari, Dr. Aftab Faiz and Dr. Raza Rashidov presented papers on topics such as infections spreading through surgical wounds and instruments, septicemia, control of antibiotic-resistant microbes and protection of medical workers against urinary tract infections.
The speakers stressed the need for adopting modern methods to prevent chances of spreading infections to other patients, their visitors and medical workers at government hospitals.
Attiyah said health workers used to be vaccinated by the ministry against hepatitis and influenza. The recommendations will be sent to all hospitals in the region.
