Practice No.
403
Reference: 10/06
Version 3
Page 1 of 3
HCC AS 31/00
HCC AS 21/07
HCC AS 20/06
HCC AS 22/01
HCC AS 28/05
HCC AS 08/07
HCC AS 19/07
HCC AS 19/07
Last up-dated
April 2008
NMC Code of Professional
conduct
GSCC Code of Practice for
Social Care Workers
Marsden Manual of Clinical
Nursing Procedures
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS FOR INFECTION CONTROL
This will summarise the arrangements and measures in place for a formalised
system of infection control that minimises the risks to the health of service users, staff
and visitors. Staff should refer to the Hampshire County Council Infection Control
Guidelines. A copy of which will be available in every unit.
1.
PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION:
1.1
Many infectious diseases are easily spread through care
establishments, where large numbers of people are in close proximity
and share eating facilities and living accommodation. Infection is a
major cause of illness in these units and management will seek to
reduce the likelihood of infection through the implementation of
effective control measures in formalised Procedures and Policies.
1.2
Sources of Infection:
 Organic matter
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 Stagnant fluids
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 Equipment
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 Water systems
-
1.3
Route of Spread:
 Direct contact
 Airborne indirect
 Airborne droplets
 Direct inhalation
 Food borne : ingested
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 Blood borne
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 Insect borne
2.
excreta; blood; body fluids; exudates
from wounds and lesions
standing water systems without regular
flushing
air conditioning systems; humidifiers;
ventilators
sinks; taps; water and waste pipes;
drains
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ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT:
hands; surgical dressings
organisms in dust; skin scales
aerosols; coughs and sneezes
inhalers and nebulisers
contaminated food; out-dated
foodstuffs
needle-stick injury; spillage of
contaminated body fluids;
uncovered, open cuts and
abrasions
cockroaches; ants; flies;
mosquitoes
The following principles will be applied to the Infection Control Policies and
Procedures:
3.
2.1
The Registered Manager is responsible, under Health & Safety
legislation, for maintaining a safe environment for service users, staff
and visitors. This is reflected in appropriate policies and role profiles.
2.2
All staff must receive training in basic infection control. The Duty
Manager is designated as the day to day co-ordinator for Infection
Control and to liaise with the manager and the Consultant in
Communicable Disease as needed. The designated person will
receive job specific additional training in infection control. (Practice
guideline 426).
2.3
All staff will use appropriate protective clothing as provided by
Hampshire County Council.
CONTROL PROCEDURES:
Routine control procedures are in place as precautions against the spread of
infection. The following procedures will be promoted as basic infection control
requirements throughout the service:
3.1
3.2
Hand Hygiene:
3.1.1
Hand-washing will be carried out using unperfumed liquid
soaps and/or anti-bactericidal or alcohol gel, as required.
Suitable facilities will be provided and prominently sited.
3.1.2
All wounds and moist skin conditions will be covered by an
occlusive waterproof dressing. Kitchen staff and staff required
to handle food, must use Blue dressings.
3.1.3
Staff with open sores or moist lesions on the hands or
forearms will not be permitted to dress wounds; undertake
invasive nursing procedures or handle clinical waste. (Medical
advice should be sought).
Waste Disposal:
3.2.1
The disposal of waste (household; clinical or bio hazardous,
including sharps) is addressed in the following practice
guidelines and Departmental Procedures:
No. 418 / HCC AS 28/05
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No. 419 / HCC AS 28/05
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No. 140 & 420 HCC AS 28/05
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General Policy for the
Disposal of Waste
Specific Procedure for
the Disposal of
Household Refuse
Specific Procedure for
the Disposal of Clinical
Waste & ‘Sharps’
3.2.2
3.3
3.4
Practice No. 415 addresses emergency cleaning and
sanitation procedures to be followed in the event of spillages of
bio hazardous waste (blood, urine, vomit, excreta).
Safe Care Procedures / Nursing Techniques:
3.3.1
Safe injection technique - will be carried out only by trained
and experienced qualified staff. (Ref: Marsden Manual and
Codes of Practice)
3.3.2
Urinary Catheterisation - will be carried out only by trained and
experienced qualified staff to a documented nursing procedure.
(Ref: Marsden Manual and Codes of Practice)
Cleaning Procedures:
The following should be used in conjunction with this practice
guideline:
3.5
Practice No. 100
Practice No. 412
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Practice No. 413
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Practice No. 414
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Practice No. 415
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Preparing the New Service User’s room
Cleaning of Bathrooms, Toilets &
Shower Heads
Cleaning of Service Users’ Rooms &
General Living Areas
Cleaning of the Kitchen & Food Handling
Areas
Emergency Cleaning and Sanitation
procedure
Handling an Outbreak of Infection / Infectious Service Users:
The following should be used in conjunction with this practice
guideline:
3.6
Practice No. 404
-
Practice No. 406
Practice No. 407
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Other Relevant Procedures
Practice No. 437
Practice No. 438
HCC AS Procedure 21/07
4.
Managing an Outbreak of Infection
within the home
Use of Isolation Rooms
Work Restrictions for Staff
Infectious Conditions
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Food Hygiene
Safe Storage of Foodstuffs
Water Systems Management
MONITORING & REPORTING:
Practice No. 404
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Practice No. 306
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Managing an Outbreak of Infection
within the home.
Incident Reporting
with