Internet of Things and artificial intelligence - based monitoring system as a strategy to reduce hospital infections

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections cause a great burden on the health system. With high morbidity and mortality rates, they increase the length of stay, the costs and may lead to the proliferation of resistant microorganisms. Hand hygiene by healthcare professionals, visitors and patients is essential to prevent microbial spread and, consequently, reduce infections in hospitalized patients. However, compliance to the proposed guidelines for correct hand hygiene is one of the major difficulties observed in the hospital environment. New technologies can be allies in the monitoring of healthcare professionals. Using concepts from the Industry 4.0, which combines technology and production means, it is possible to create intelligent systems capable of preventing process failures or identifying alternatives that are more efficient. The objective of this project is to create a system capable of monitoring professionals, regarding the correct hand hygiene procedure when dealing with patients. The entire hardware and software structures to be implemented in a real environment will be developed, including bed mapping, professional registration, installation of electronic devices and communication. The system will be validated in a tertiary hospital, where professionals will be evaluated for their compliance to the hand hygiene protocols. In the future, other systems could be created from this technology, to fight the spread of hospital-acquired infections. (AU)