Global collaboration reduces preventable infections during pediatric cancer treatment

Infection prevention and control are critical in pediatric oncology care units, where patients are highly susceptible to infections due to their compromised immune systems. In many resource-limited countries, hospitals lack sufficient infection prevention and control programs, resulting in higher rates of preventable health care–associated infections and mortality. The St. Jude Global Infectious Disease Program works with hospitals in such countries to help establish and sustain dedicated infection prevention and control teams in their pediatric oncology units. The program identifies and trains a local champion to lead infection care initiatives and educate staff within their hospital.

Miguela Caniza, MD, MPH, St. Jude Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, and her colleagues measured the impact of the effort at Hospital Oncológico SOLCA “Solón Espinosa Ayala” (SOLCA-Quito) in Quito, Ecuador, and the Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica (UNOP) in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The study found that infections in the pediatric cancer units dropped dramatically over several years. At SOLCA-Quito, health care–associated infections dropped from 9 to 2.6 per 1,000 days patients spent in the hospital (patient days). UNOP saw a decrease from 9.9 to 5.4 per 1,000 patient days. These results demonstrate that targeted training and the cultivation of local infection prevention and control champions can dramatically reduce health care–associated infections. The findings were published in Frontiers in Oncology. 

“This study highlights the importance of identifying local champions who can lead infection prevention efforts at their hospitals,” said Caniza. “By connecting motivated staff and maximizing existing resources, we can strengthen safety without major new investments.”

“This collaboration between the Global Infectious Disease Program of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and our oncology unit in Guatemala proved to be not only highly impactful by building a quality improvement structure, but also, and very importantly, sustainable over time,” said co-first author Mario Melgar, MD, pediatric infectious disease champion at the Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica in Guatemala.

“The SOLCA-Quito link team is the result of excellent teamwork from the Global Infectious Diseases Team at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The collaborative effort resulted in a decrease in the rate of health care–associated infections,” said co-first author Joanna Acebo, MD, pediatric infectious disease champion at Hospital SOLCA-Núcleo de Quito.

“We want to improve safety in pediatric oncology units so these children can receive treatment and leave healthy, without facing preventable infections,” said Caniza. 

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