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Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare
Infection prevention and control (IPC) are essential for patient safety and maintaining high care standards in healthcare settings. IPC practices aim to minimise infectious agent transmission, protecting staff and patients. This guide provides practical, evidence-based strategies for healthcare workers, policymakers, and administrators to enhance their existing infection prevention and control measures, covering areas like hand hygiene, surgical site infections, injection safety, and antimicrobial resistance. IPC plays a vital role in healthcare operations during routine care and emergencies like COVID-19.
Types of Infections in Healthcare
What are the 4 types of infections?
The four main types of infections are bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic. Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria and can lead to illnesses like pneumonia or strep throat. Viral infections occur when viruses, such as the flu or COVID-19, invade the body and multiply within host cells. Fungal infections are caused by fungi, like moulds or yeasts, and can affect the skin, lungs, or other tissues. Parasitic infections happen when parasites, such as worms or protozoa, infect the body, leading to diseases like malaria. Each type requires different infection prevention control and treatment strategies.
Common Sources of Infection in Healthcare Settings
In healthcare settings, sources of infection can come from people, including patients, healthcare workers, and visitors. Contaminated surfaces like bed rails, medical equipment, countertops, and tables also pose significant infection risks. Wet environments, such as cooling towers, faucets, sinks, and biofilms (clusters of microorganisms in moist areas), are common breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. Medical devices like catheters and IV lines, as well as dust from construction zones or water leaks, can also be sources of infection. A thorough risk assessment should be conducted to ensure these sources are mitigated.
How Infections Spread in Healthcare Environments
Transmission of infections often occurs through direct contact, such as when healthcare workers touch contaminated surfaces or medical equipment without proper hand hygiene. Germs can also spread through droplets from coughing or sneezing, which land on a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth. Inhalation of airborne particles, including dust or germs from infected patients and accidental injuries from used needles (sharps injuries), are other ways infections can spread within healthcare settings. Understanding infection control and following guidelines is crucial in reducing these risks.
What are examples of Infection Control and Prevention?
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Hand Washing - Regular and thorough handwashing and drying are highly effective ways to prevent the spread of infections. Healthcare workers must adhere to proper hand hygiene protocols before and after patient contact.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Using PPE, like gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection, helps create a barrier against infectious agents. Proper donning and doffing techniques are essential to prevent contamination.
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Environmental Cleaning - Regular cleaning and disinfection of working environments, including surfaces, medical equipment, and patient rooms, reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. This includes decontamination procedures.
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Waste Management - Safe disposal of medical waste, such as sharps and contaminated materials, is crucial to preventing the spread of infections. Following infection control and prevention guidelines ensures proper handling.
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Staff Training and Education - Ongoing training on infection control prevention procedures and updates on new guidelines will ensure healthcare providers are equipped with the necessary knowledge
Why Infection Prevention in Healthcare Matters
Infection prevention and control are vital for reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Effective infection control and prevention measures lead to:
- Improved patient outcomes and reduced morbidity and mortality rates.
- Enhanced safety for healthcare workers.
- Lower healthcare costs by preventing costly outbreaks and reducing the need for extensive treatments.
- Compliance with regulatory standards, such as those by the NHS, and improved accreditation status for healthcare facilities.
By incorporating risk assessment protocols, adhering to public health guidelines, and prioritising hand hygiene and PPE usage, infection control is enhanced in daily healthcare operations.
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Dispose of your expired Hand Sanitisers and PPE correctly
Following the mass purchase of sanitiser and related products in the COVID-19 pandemic as we enter 2024, bulk stored products are coming to the end of their best before shelf life.
Typically hand sanitisers have an expiration date of between 2-3 years and over time will begin to evaporate reducing their potency and ability to kill pathogens. Commercial or large volumes of hand sanitiser require specialist hazardous waste disposal to prevent harm to humans and the environment.
Contact us to dispose of your expired hand sanitiser and PPE