Hygiene in the hospital – VR training should prevent germs

The project was initiated by Michael Wagner, specialist in pediatrics at MedUni/Vienna General Hospital, and Christoph Klaus, geneticist and director of the disinfectant manufacturer Schülke & Mayr. Despite the high hygiene standards in Austrian hospitals, wound infections after surgery or sepsis are by far the most common infections to occur during a medical procedure, it was explained.

“The pathogens usually originate from the bacteria in the skin flora of the patients themselves and, in principle, fulfill important protective functions,” Klaus informed. However, during surgery, they can enter the wound area and cause infection and associated subsequent surgery, pain or disability for those affected. “In the worst cases, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are involved,” Klaus emphasized. However, pathogens can also be transmitted during any other treatment measure.

Training in virtual reality
Together with the Viennese VR company Soma Reality and with the participation of the research promotion agency, various medical modules have been developed to train doctors and nursing staff. The workout can be installed on standard VR headsets. “We have currently developed three scenarios for the pediatric, neonatal and obstetric environment in which medical staff and students receive valuable feedback on their skills and their individual opportunities for improvement,” said Wagner.

“Initial runs show that the training elements increase patient safety, as they make potential transmission routes of hospital pathogens visible to the individuals involved and thus visualize for the first time the immediate consequences of neglected hygiene measures,” says Klaus. The project is unique in the German-speaking world. In further controlled studies, the actual effects must be made visible and additional training elements must be developed.