Welcome Infection prevention & Control.

[Audio] Good morning everyone! Today, we are going to discuss the importance of Infection Prevention & Control. By the end of today's presentation, you will be familiar with IPC and its importance in the work setting. So, let us get started!.

[Audio] This presentation focuses on infection prevention and control in Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. It will analyze the eight key elements of standard precautions: hand hygiene, cleaning and decontamination, safe handling and disposal of waste, sharps safety, personal protective equipment, safe handling of blood and bodily fluid spillages, safe handling of used linen, and respiratory hygiene. It is vital that all hospital workers understand the standards that must be upheld, and how to protect themselves and their patients from infection. We will now go into detail on these key elements and how they are applied in the Trust..

[Audio] It is our responsibility as healthcare workers to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of infection in our work environment. This is particularly critical due to the amount of avoidable illnesses and deaths caused by infections in the last 20 years. Estimates indicate that there are over 300000 cases of healthcare associated infections in England each year, with a hefty price tag for the NHS. To lower the chance of acquiring these infections, all staff must have a basic knowledge of how bacteria travel and how to prevent it. Risk assessments must also be carried out when providing services to reduce the chances of infection. We must remember that infectious diseases can go both ways and that it is preferable to prevent than to treat. By following the guidelines in this presentation, we can not only reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to others but also to ourselves. So, let us all remember to wash our hands regularly..

[Audio] Hand hygiene is a crucial part of infection prevention and control. Five steps should be taken when performing hand hygiene: 1) Wash hands with an antiseptic soap containing a disinfectant; 2) Utilize a needle and vial to avoid contact with bodily fluids; 3) Utilize digital monitoring to document practice; 4) Do hand hygiene either before or after any direct patient contact or clean/aseptic procedure; 5) Do hand hygiene prior to administering IV medications, after handling bodily fluids and after coming into contact with the patient or their environment. These five steps can help lower the spread of germs and protect patients..

[Audio] Hand hygiene is an essential part of controlling infections. The chart displayed provide evidence of the hand hygiene practices conducted by medical doctors, advanced critical care practitioners and registered nurses in a healthcare setting. It indicates how often hand hygiene was practiced before and when conducting activities such as patient contact, aseptic tasks, and contact with bodily fluids. The scores range from 0-10. This information can assist in evaluating the quality of hand hygiene and guide the development of best practices..

[Audio] When moving on to the next slide, the importance of following the proper dress code in a clinical environment must be addressed. A clinical environment can be defined as any area where patients are receiving medical examinations or procedures. It is imperative that staff demonstrate a smart and professional presence, wearing the approved uniform and with their arms uncovered below the elbow. Wrist watches or jewellery should not be worn below the elbow, other than a single plain wedding band. NHS approved ID badges must be worn by staff, and those not working in patient areas may wear lanyards with a safety breakaway clip..

[Audio] Today we'll be discussing infection prevention and control, specifically personal hygiene. It is important for us to monitor our hygiene practices while in the workplace, as it is the first line of defense against germs. It is important to have clean, neat, and tidy hair, and long hair should be tied back and off the collar when working within a clinical area. Male staff should be clean-shaven, or keep beards and mustaches well maintained. Visible body piercing is permitted, with small, discreet studs. Nails should be kept short, clean, and neat. Staff working in a clinical environment or wearing trust uniform are not permitted to wear nail varnish, false nails, extensions, or nail jewelry. Shoes should be clean and in good condition, plain, non-slip, and wipeable. Open-backed shoes, Crocs, and vented shoes are not permitted. This concludes our discussion on personal hygiene in the workplace..

[Audio] Smoking is not an acceptable practice when considering Infection Prevention and Control. Employees must not smoke while wearing their uniform, either nearby or away from the hospital grounds. If staff need to smoke while on the job, they must change out of their uniform first. This policy applies to electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices, too. If an employee doesn't abide by the policy, a report will be filed..

[Audio] Decontamination of patient equipment is an essential element for Infection Prevention & Control. All employees must comprehend their part and obligations with regards to decontamination. The Health and Safety at Work Act guarantees that decontamination is performed accurately and capably. Cleaning Audits are done constantly to guarantee that the best techniques are followed. Through our collaboration, we can ensure that 100% consistency is attained..

[Audio] Infectious waste from infectious patients must be handled and disposed of properly. Infectious waste consists of items such as certain healthcare items, disposable personal protective equipment, and incontinence pads, and it is coloured black. Non-infectious waste contains no germs or viruses and is coloured tiger stripe. Examples of non-infectious waste are paper towels, tissues, food waste, and domestic waste, which is coloured black. It is important to handle, transport, and dispose of waste correctly in order to avoid endangering staff, patients, the public, and the environment..

[Audio] Sharps are any objects with a sharp point or edge that can cause injury, including scalpels, lancets and syringes. Dispose of sharps into an approved container after use, never pass them from one person to another, handle them only when necessary and do not re-sheath needles. Do not fill bins past the ‘full line’ and never put general waste in the sharps bins. Needlestick injuries can occur in medical procedures, so it is important to report all needlestick injuries to occupational health. To ensure safety, one must remember to squeeze the needle, wash and dry the area and then report the injury..

[Audio] In infection prevention and control, the use of PPE such as gloves, masks, goggles and aprons is legally required in order to protect healthcare workers and patients from infection. Disposing of PPE after contact with each patient helps to prevent contamination. Considering all this, the correct use of PPE helps to safeguard the health of everyone involved, but it should be remembered that it is not a substitute for handwashing, rather, it is complementary to it..

[Audio] Blood and bodily fluids can contain dangerous viruses or other pathogens, so proper housekeeping is essential to reduce the risk of contamination. Spills must be dealt with immediately, and shared areas such as toilets, wash basins, and door handles must be routinely cleaned. All personnel need to be aware of the infection prevention and control requirements to ensure the health and safety of both the patient and those providing care..

[Audio] Linen is commonly present in our environment and so it is important to take necessary steps to ensure it does not become contaminated. Infected linen should be set apart from other items and kept away from clean linen. Utilizing water-soluble membrane bags when handling infected linen can help to reduce the risks of contamination. Wearing gloves and aprons when handling and laundering the linen can also help minimize potential contamination. To prevent cross contamination, linen should not be left to accumulate at a single spot, linen bag holders must be cleaned daily, and clean linen should be stored above floor level..

[Audio] Respiratory hygiene is a vital measure in avoiding the spread of infections. We all can make a contribution to lower the spread of disease by adhering to accurate respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. This involves encasing your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and disposing of any used tissues right away into the trash. On top of that, hand hygiene like washing with soap and water or utilising an alcohol-based hand sanitiser ought to be carried out often..

[Audio] Healthcare providers must take Infection Prevention and Control measures with utmost seriousness. Link Advisors are trained to help create and maintain appropriate practices in their relevant clinical area. These knowledgeable individuals serve a vital role in securing patients, staff, and the public from infection-based concerns. Their expertise and direction are essential to keeping healthcare facilities secure..

[Audio] Discussing infection prevention and control is the focus of this presentation. You will understand the essential steps to protect yourself and others from potential infections. When handling infected linen, wearing gloves and aprons protect skin from contact. In addition, disinfecting equipment reduces the number of micro-organisms and reduces the risk of spreading infection. For disposing clinical waste, a red bag is used to signify hazardous waste. In patient care, rings with plain bands, false nails, or any other items should not be worn on the hands. Standard infection control precautions do not include safe handling of linen, blood and body fluids, and patients' personal hygiene. After this presentation, you will comprehend how to protect yourself and others from potential infections. Take the quiz at the end to test your knowledge..

[Audio] At the end of our presentation on infection prevention and control, a quiz was included to test what was learnt. To quickly review the questions and answers – Question 1 was C, Question 2 was C, Question 3 was A, Question 4 was B and Question 5 was C. Question 6 asked which of the following are considered as infection prevention and control measures – Hand Hygiene, Waste disposal, Linen/Laundry, Sharps disposal, Personal Protective Equipment, Cleaning/decontamination, Blood & Bodily Fluids, and Respiratory Hygiene. All these were correct answers. Thank you for your attention..