Priciples_of_Infection_Prevention_and_Control

The principles of infection prevention and control Outcome 1 Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections As an employee; we have a responsibility in the prevention and control of infection, by always decontaminating hands between caring for different patients, and by applying an alcohol gel or washing hands with a liquid soap and water and then drying with paper towels. Also by ensuring the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) i.e. Gloves/aprons/masks are used when there is a risk of exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions & excretions and also in the environment of a person requiring isolation. Any PPE used should be safely disposed of in the clinical waste and any equipment that is used for more than one patient, i.e. commode, hoist, the appropriate cleaning must follow each and every episode of use. The hospital environment must be visibly clean and free from dust and soilage. Our employers also have a responsibility to ensure that any PPE or cleaning materials that are needed are always available. Outcome 2 Understand legislation and policies relating to prevention and control of infection The current legislation and regulatory body is: R.I.D.D.O.R. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1995, place a legal duty on; •employers, self employed people & people in control of premises; To report work related deaths, major injuries, work related diseases and dangerous occurrences.Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement. The information enables the Health & Safety Executive, and local authorities, to identify where and how risks arise and to investigate serious accidents and to then help you and provide advice on how to reduce injury and ill health in your workplace. Within the Trust we have a responsibility to identify and report any outbreaks and infection risks to the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT). Outcome 3 Understand systems and procedures relating to the prevention and control of infection All patients that are new admissions are routinely swabbed MRSA. Any patient that has an infection risk i.e. C.Diff, MRSA, TB, Compylabacter, D&V etc, are nursed in a side room where the appropriate PPE are used with the hand washing procedure as; hand washing is the single most effective way of preventing the spread of infection. The potential impact of an outbreak of an infection could mean that the ward concerned would have to be closed; to ensure that the infection is contained. The staff on that ward would not be allowed to be on any other ward to prevent further spreading of infection. Outcome 4 Understand the importanceof risk assessment in relation to the prevention and control of infections Risk: A risk is the chance of something happening that will have an adverse impact on the achievement of the trust’s objectives and the delivery of high quality patient care. The potential risks of infection within the workplace are; • a skin penetrating injury such as a needle stick injury. • if blood or body substances ome into contact with broken skin, open wounds, mouth or eyes. • handling any already contaminated equipment. A thorough Risk Assessment process will take in to account the following; • identification of the hazard • assessing the risks posed by the hazard • removing the risks where possible • reducing those that cannot be removed • each aspect of the risk assessment process must be recorded • The risk must be reviewed at regular intervals to assess whether any changes are relevant The above findings will be recorded using a Risk Assessment Tool sheet. Undertaking risk assessments are essential and should be carried out before commencing any work activity or task, to enable you to take the necessary steps to minimise the risk of injury to yourself and to others. Outcome 5 Understand the importance of using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the prevention and control of infections PPE should always be used when caring for a patient that has an infection risk or when there is a risk of exposure to; blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions. When the task is complete the PPE should be removed and placed in a clinical waste bin and the recommended hand washing technique is used. Different types of PPE; Gloves; These are special protective gloves that act as an additional barrier, but you should still wash your hands after you use them. Each pair of gloves must only be used once and must be changed between patients, and between different procedures with the same patient. Aprons; There should be a supply of disposable plastic aprons that should be used if there is a risk of body fluids or blood splashing onto your clothes. The apron should be used for one patient/procedure only. Mask; There should be a supply of disposable masks available to use if there is a risk of airborne infections such Tuberculosis or Swine Flu when caring for a patient. The current regulations and legislation relating to PPE at work regulations 1992 is that Personal Protective Equipment is to be supplied and used whenever there are risks to health & safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. The Regulations also require that PPE; • is properly assessed before used to ensure it is suitable. • is maintained and stored properly. • is provided with instructions on how to use it safely. • is used correctly by employees. Ensure any PPE that is used is ‘CE’ marked and complies with the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002. The ‘CE’ marking signifies that the PPE satisfies basic safety requirements and in some cases will have been tested and certified by an independent body. All PPE equipment must only be disposed of using the clinical waste disposal bins, which have the orange waste bags. Outcome 6 Understand the importance of good personal hygiene in the prevention and control of infections The key principles of good personal hygiene are; • clean uniform • regular hand washing • short clean nails • any cuts cleaned and dressed • hair tied back The correct sequence for hand washing; • wet hands under warm running water • add soap solution • rub palms together • rub back of left hand with palm of right hand, then rub back of right hand with palm of left hand • with fingers interlinked and palms together wash between fingers • rub backs of fingers against palm of opposite hand • use opposite palm to wash between thumb and index finger • rub tips of fingers onto palm of opposite hand in a circular movement • rinse well under warm running water • dry with paper towels Hand washing is one of the most important hygiene principles in the prevention of infection; and preventing the spread of infection. It should always be carried out between patient contact and after removing PPE. The products used for hand washing are; warm water, soap and paper towels. The only moisturiser that should be applied while at work is provided by the trust as others may have ingredients that can cause a reaction with other products used.