Welcome Infection prevention & Control.

[Audio] Welcome everyone! I am very delighted to have you here today for this presentation on Infection Prevention & Control. We are fortunate to have guest presenter, Sandra Longford, who will be taking us through today's presentation. Here we will explore the expectations for dress code, the main aspects of Standard Precaution, and how to minimize the risk of infections taking place with guidelines provided. At the end of the presentation we will have a quiz. So, let's begin!.

[Audio] We are here to discuss the important issue of Infection prevention & Control. The health and safety of our patients must be our top priority, so it is essential for hospital staff to be aware of and practice the various measures necessary to reduce the risk of infection. The Trust has set out expectations for staff regarding dress code and infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene, cleaning and decontamination, safe handling and disposal of waste, sharps safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), safe handling of blood and bodily fluid spillages, safe handling of used linen, and respiratory hygiene. It is vital that we all understand these safety measures, and this presentation will provide you with all the necessary details..

[Audio] Over the past two decades, there have been scientific, medical and technological advances, yet infectious diseases and infections remain an important cause of illness and death. In 2007, MRSA and Clostridium Difficile were linked to 9000 deaths in hospitals or primary care. It is estimated that 300000 people in England will acquire a healthcare-associated infection at a cost of more than 1 billion pounds. Prevention is better than cure, so it is important to understand how germs can spread and ways to reduce the risk of them causing harm. This presentation will provide information on infection prevention and control and include a quiz to test your understanding. Therefore, it is important to remember to wash your hands regularly..

[Audio] Hand hygiene is at the centre of infection prevention and control. This is crucial to stop the diffusion of damaging germs and viruses, which can lead to severe sickness. The 5 moments of hand hygiene should be considered. Firstly, washing hands before direct contact with a patient, secondly, doing the same before any aseptic or clean procedures, thirdly, before administering intravenous medications, fourthly, after coming into contact with any bodily fluids, and lastly, after touching a patient or their environment. All of these moments involve simply washing hands..

[Audio] A recent audit indicates that 7.4 out of 10 Doctors/ Advance Care Practitioners complied with proper hand hygiene before contact with the patient, 8.1 out of 10 before an aseptic task, and 8.3 out of 10 nurses complied with hand hygiene after contact with bodily fluids. These findings clearly demonstrate that there is room for improvement in hand hygiene compliance. With this knowledge, we can identify where improvements should be made and start taking action..

[Audio] Staff must present a smart and professional image when entering a clinical area. Approved uniforms must be worn with arms uncovered below the elbow. Wrist watches and other jewellery should not be worn, apart from a single plain wedding band. NHS approved ID badges must be worn with lanyards that have a safety breakaway clip, unless working in a patient area. That concludes the information on the dress code for a clinical area..

[Audio] It is essential that hair is kept clean, tidy and neat, with long hair tied back and away from the collar when working in a clinical setting. Male staff should either be clean shaven or, if they maintain a beard or mustache, ensure that it is well groomed. It is acceptable to have small, discreet body piercings. Any jewellery that has been removed by the employee is the responsibility of the wearer to keep secure. Nails should be kept short, clean and neat, with no nail varnish, false nails, extensions or jewellery allowed for staff working in a clinical environment or wearing Trust uniform. Footwear must be clean, in good condition, non-slip, plain and wipeable; open-backed, Crocs and vented shoes are prohibited..

[Audio] Smoking has a major effect on people's physical condition. In order to protect the well-being of our patients, the hospital has adopted a strict rule regarding smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes and vape pens, while personnel are in uniform. This regulation includes both in and outside the hospital facilities. If staff members wish to smoke, they must take off their uniform first. All violations of this policy will be taken seriously..

[Audio] It is essential that we are aware of our role and responsibilities when it comes to the decontamination of reusable medical devices. To prevent the transmission of infectious agents, it is our responsibility to take the necessary steps in accordance with safety protocols for a safe and effective decontamination of equipment between patients. As such, we conduct Cleaning Audits, aiming to hit 100% compliance..

[Audio] Today, we will cover the safe handling and disposal of waste which may include untreated infectious waste from patients, as well as non-infectious and domestic waste. When dealing with any kind of waste, it is important to be aware of the potential health hazards. Infectious waste should be discarded in black bags, whereas non-infectious waste should be discarded in tiger stripe bags. Incontinence pads and nappies, as well as non-infectious PPE, should be discarded in domestic black bags. Paper towels, tissues and food waste should be disposed of separately and as safely as possible. Healthcare waste has the potential to be toxic, hazardous and/or infectious, so all staff have a 'duty of care' to ensure that it is segregated, handled, transported and disposed of appropriately..

[Audio] Sharps can be found in a wide variety of medical procedures and can be hazardous if not handled properly. It is important to take measures to ensure safety when handling them. Ensure you dispose of sharps immediately at the point of use in specified containers. Do not pass them between people, handle only when necessary and never put needles back in their sheaths. Additionally, be mindful of the full line indicated on the sharp bin and do not exceed this. Moreover, sharp bins are not intended for general waste. In the case of a needlestick injury, there are a few steps to take: squeeze the wound, wash, dry, and report the incident to occupational health..

[Audio] It is essential to be aware of the importance of using the right equipment and materials when it comes to Infection Prevention and Control. These items include gloves, masks, goggles, and aprons. Gloves are not totally effective and must be washed before and after use. Masks are necessary to protect against small particles and should be changed regularly, especially with isolating patients. Goggles and eye protection should be used when exposure to blood is probable. Additionally, aprons should be worn to protect uniforms and avoid contact with blood and other bodily fluids. All PPE must be disposed of after treating each patient..

[Audio] We will be talking about Blood & Bodily Fluids. Quick action must be taken when dealing with spills of blood or bodily fluid, as any blood has the potential to carry hazardous viruses and other pathogens. When providing healthcare services, shared areas such as toilets, door handles and washbasins need to be properly managed to reduce the risk of spreading harmful microorganisms. To minimize the risk of contamination, good housekeeping is necessary..

[Audio] Reaching the last slide of the presentation, we will discuss the correct use of linen in Infection Prevention & Control. Infected linen must be kept separate from other items and enclosed in water-soluble membrane bags. All linen should be handled with minimal contact and gloves and aprons must be worn when dealing with infected linen. Any laundry should not be stored for too long in any one area. Cleaning and maintenance of linen bag holders should occur daily. Clean linen needs to be kept above floor level and in a separate room to avoid potential cross contamination. Thank you for your attention to this presentation and for joining us in this journey..