Infection Prevention & Control E-Learning Module
Infection Prevention & Control
(Non-Clinical Mandatory)
Introduction
This is a printed copy of the Training Tracker e-learning module on Infection Prevention
& Control This course is aimed at all Non- Clinical Trust staff.
Why do you need to know about IP&C?
There has been a real surge of interest in Infection Prevention & Control over recent years,
with a great deal reported in the media about “dirty hospitals”, “superbugs” and so on. Not
everything the media reports is accurate however. This course will help you understand
the facts about infection risks and how those risks can be reduced to a minimum.
In general, the risk of staff in healthcare settings developing an infection related to their
workplace is very low. This is because staff are generally fit, healthy and their skin is
intact.
Because patients receiving healthcare may have wounds, devices such as catheters and
“drips” or be very unwell, the risk of infection is much greater. To protect patients, all staff
working in healthcare environments do need to be aware of the risks infections pose to
vulnerable patients.
Staff also need to be aware of what actions they should take if an infection risk is identified
in or around their workplace. For example, you need to know what action to take if you
notice a blood spill in the corridor.
The Infection Prevention & Control Team
The Infection Prevention & Control team (IPCT) have a number of roles within the Trust,
including monitoring cases of infection, educating staff, patients and others and auditing
the environment and clinical practice.
One of our primary roles however, is providing advice and guidance about Infection
Prevention & Control (IP&C) issues to anyone who asks. We are always very happy to help,
so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or concerns.
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Infection Prevention & Control E-Learning Module
The team are:
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Director of Infection Prevention & Control – Carol Alstrom
Infection Control Doctor & Consultant Medical Microbiologist – Dr Suzanne
Chapman
Consultant Microbiologist - Dr Milada Tavodova
The Infection Prevention & Control Nurses (IPCNs) – Janet Tait,
Michelle Ould & Derek Bampton
Secretary - Faye Blacklock
Our Intranet home page with our contact details can be found by clicking this link
(Intranet connected computers only)
Your responsibility for IP&C
Everyone is responsible for maintaining good IP&C standards. Contracted Trust staff have
signed to indicate they will make themselves aware of and abide by relevant Trust policies,
which include those relating to IP&C.
All IP&C policies are available on the intranet policy site. To make them easier to find, they
are all prefixed “Infection Prevention”. You can find the full list by following this link
(Intranet connected computers only)
Some of these policies will be more relevant for staff working directly with patients.
Policies that are most relevant to you as a non-clinical staff member would be as follows;
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Code of practice
Hand Hygiene
Clean patient environment
Disinfection and decontamination
Safe handling & disposal of sharps
Management of exposure to blood borne viruses
The rest of this course will help you understand what you need to do to prevent infection in
the workplace.
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Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is a vital part of preventing infection in a healthcare setting. This is because
of the risk to vulnerable patients or clients. Hands pick up organisms from people, objects
and environments and can then pass them on, unless they are removed by carrying out
effective hand hygiene.
The 'clean your hands' campaign was started to highlight the importance of hand
hygiene. When the Trust joined the campaign, we made hand sanitizer widely available
throughout the hospital, but most especially at the patient bedside, because the main
message is to clean your hands before contact with vulnerable patients or clients.
As healthcare staff, even if we do not work in patient areas, we need to be aware of the
need to set a good example to others. Good hand hygiene is a good habit.
Things to remember about hand hygiene
Hand Washing;
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Always wet your hands before putting on liquid soap
Make sure you rub soap vigorously over all surfaces of your hands including the
backs, wrists and thumbs.
Rinse and dry well.
Use moisturiser to protect and nourish skin.
Hand Sanitiser;
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Is effective at cleaning hands as long as there is no visible dirt on them
Use one shot of sanitiser on dry hands •Rub it vigorously over all surfaces of the
hands including the backs, wrists and thumbs until they are completely dry
Sanitiser will not work against “gut bugs” and diarrhoea or vomiting (D&V) bugs –
if you have used the toilet or have had contact with anyone with D&V, you need to
wash your hands.
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Hand Hygiene Products
All hand hygiene products in use within the Trust must be approved for use. Our current
products within the hospital are supplied by “Gojo” and have been tested to make sure
they are safe for use in a healthcare setting.
Some off-site Trust premises may have hand hygiene products supplied by “Deb”, which
have also been tested for safety.
If you believe the hand hygiene products we use are damaging your skin, it is very
important you contact the Occupational Health team for a skin assessment. Do not simply
bring in your own hand hygiene products – if they are not the approved products they are
not allowed and may even be harmful to your hands. Occupational Health can advise you
on suitable alternatives.
Preventing the spread of infection
Your own personal hygiene is very important in a healthcare setting, as it is possible for
some common infections such as influenza and Norovirus to be brought into healthcare
settings by staff. There are some simple measures you can take to minimise the spread of
infection in the workplace.
If you have sudden onset diarrhoea and/or vomiting and suspect you may have Norovirus,
it is important to stay away from work until 48hours after the symptoms have stopped. It
is very easy to pass this “bug” on to others, so please don’t put anyone else at risk by
coming back to work too soon.
If you have coughs, colds or flu, remember; “Catch it, bin it, kill it!” Use a tissue to
“catch” the cough or sneeze, throw the tissue safely away in the bin immediately it has
been used and wash your hands to kill the remaining “germs”.
Always wash your hands after using the toilet and before you eat or drink anything.
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Common sense keeps us all safe!
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Cleaning
Cleaning is the physical removal of dirt and organisms. Everyone is responsible for
cleanliness in their own workplace.
The Cleanliness team are responsible for cleaning the environment, but they cannot be
there all the time. In addition, they are not responsible for cleaning equipment on your
desk or in your workspace such as computer keyboards, telephone handsets, electrical
equipment and similar items. This is your responsibility. Everyone has a role to play in
keeping the workplace clean.
Detergent and water (or detergent wipes) are the most effective way to clean items.
Cloths used for cleaning must be disposable and discarded once they have been used.
Never leave dirty cloths lying about – organisms will grow in them!
If you identify a problem related to cleanliness in your place of work, it is your
responsibility to report it appropriately. The Hotel Services Manager can be contacted by
phoning (53)4908.
“Sharps” Safety
Everyone needs to know what to do if they have a “sharps” or contamination incident
whilst at work.
A “sharps” incident, would be an injury from a contaminated sharp object such as a used
scalpel or needle.
A “contamination” incident would be a spill or splash of blood or body fluid onto broken
skin or into the eyes, nose or mouth. It could also be a human bite that draws blood or a
deep scratch from fingernails that are visibly contaminated with blood or faeces.
These kinds of incident pose a risk of someone else’s blood getting inside your own blood
system, which could put you at risk of developing a blood-borne virus.
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More information on this can be found on the Occupational BBV Refresher
2010/11 Training Tracker module for clinical staff.
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What to do if there is a Sharps or Contamination incident.
1. Immediately start first aid
2. Report the injury to your supervisor/Line Manager
3. Follow the procedure on the sharps incident poster which you can find on
the intranet
Please make sure you are very familiar with the guidance on the poster. It is very
important you access help quickly and correctly if an incident occurs.
Reporting infection prevention & control issues
When you work in a healthcare environment, it is possible for you to come across infection
control issues that concern you but which you are not trained to deal with yourself. For
example, it’s important to know how to get help if you find a used sharp in the toilets, a
spillage of blood in a corridor or a bag of clinical waste in the grounds.
Never put yourself at risk by handling used sharps or clinical waste – make the area safe,
then contact switchboard (or phone direct) to ask for the most appropriate person.
Laundry and waste issues should be reported to the Waste Manager or the Portering team.
Used sharps and body fluid spills inside the hospital should be reported to the Caretaking
team. Issues within the grounds of your place of work should be reported to the Estates
team.
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Infection Prevention & Control
Infection Prevention and Control is everyone’s responsibility.
If you have more questions,
We will be happy to help you.
you
can
contact
the
IPCNs
from
9-5,
Mon-Fri.
Please contact the team on (01983)534882
What do I do now? –
Access Training Tracker to take your test
If you already have a username and password you can log into training tracker
and start your test via this link http://iow.trainingtracker.co.uk that can be found
on:
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Intranet Homepage
Learning Zone
E- Learning
To obtain a username and password, please contact Development & Training
on extension 5409, and we will ensure that the details are e-mailed to you as
soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.
If you have any difficulties with logging in please do not hesitate to contact us on
the above number.
IF YOU DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT USING A COMPUTER AND WOULD LIKE
ONE TO ONE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE PLEASE CONTACT US ON THE
ABOVE NUMBER AND WE CAN ARRANGE FOR AN IT TRAINER TO HELP
YOU TO LOG ON AND TAKE YOUR TEST
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