Infection Surveillance Service

Infection surveillance and prevention is one of the most important priorities of Riga East Clinical University Hospital (Hospital) to ensure a safe hospital environment for patients and their relatives.

Healthcare associated infections are a global problem. According to the ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control), there are 4,100,000 hospital-acquired infections per year in the European Union.

The work of the Infection Surveillance Service is based on the recommendations of both the World Health Organization and the ECDC, as well as the recommendations and guidelines of various professional organizations. In addition to the Hospital, other Latvian hospitals also provide effective systems to control healthcare-associated infections.

The Hospital Infection Surveillance Service is headed by a certified infectologist, hepatologist Māris Liepiņš. The team consists of a doctor-infection control specialist, an infectious doctor and infection control nurses. In its work, the service is connected with all structural units of the hospital – microbiology laboratories, clinics, auxiliary services and economic and technical staff.

The highest priority for staff is to contribute to the fight against hospital-acquired infections, multi-resistant micro-organisms and other problems associated with antimicrobial treatment (antibiotic-associated forms of diarrhea or Clostridium difficile infection).

We are committed to reducing the spread of infections and effectively protecting patients, their relatives, employees and other members of the public who enter the Hospital.

This includes:
• Continuously improve our clinical practice to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections and set an example for colleagues;
• Education and training for all staff, using mutual trust, monitoring data and scientific evidence in the relevant field;
• Infection surveillance standards in patient care that are easily accessible to all staff;
• Audit policies and guidelines to ensure that best practices are followed;
• Support for patients and their families;
• Rational use of antimicrobials as a particularly important measure to reduce global resistance.

Specialists:

Head of the Service, infectologist, hepatologist Māris Liepiņš

Infectologist Monta Madelāne

Infectologist Ilze Ekšteina
Infection control nurses: Inna Bičkova, Silvija Bukovska, Sņežana Grigori-Škoda, Janīna Greidāne, Agita Melbārde-Kelmere.

The head of the infection surveillance service Māris Liepiņš and the infectologist Monta Madelāne advise patients:

• with diseases that occur with a fever (fever of unknown cause);
• in case of infectious diseases (angina, influenza, pneumonia, intestinal infections, urinary tract infections, Lyme disease and others);
• in the case of resistant microorganisms;
• in case of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (Clostridium difficile infection);
• with various liver diseases;
• for vaccination, incl. before travel;

Consultations take place by appointment with a referral from a family doctor / other specialist or for a fee.