Infection Control Policy and Guidelines

This policy is designed to provide staff with clear guidance on how to decontaminate equipment used in healthcare and patient/client intervention.

This policy is designed to provide staff with clear guidance on how to decontaminate equipment used in healthcare and patient/client intervention.

The Health Act (2006) – Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Health Care Associated Infections places Trusts under legal duty to implement effective clinical care protocols.

The correct implementation of an aseptic technique is a key element of this duty. This document outlines the principles of asepsis and a clean technique that Trust staff are expected to work to. These principles must be adhered to and incorporated into any relevant clinical protocols/guidance that are developed by local services within the Primary Care Trust.

This document is intended to provide guidance on the correct process for disposal of urine to ensure the safe handling and disposal from all premises covered by the Heart of Birmingham teaching Primary Care Trust. This policy must be used in conjunction with the Trust and Directorate Infection Control Policy and Procedure Manual.

This document describes the procedures to be followed when dealing with blood and body fluid/ waste spill. This policy must be used in conjunction with the Trust Infection Control Policy and Procedure Manual.

Heart of Birmingham PCT acknowledges the health hazards arising from exposure to legionella bacteria and its duty to protect employees, clients and visitors to trust premises as far as is reasonably practicable by minimising exposure through the use of proper control measures and design. This will include improving the standard of existing water and ventilation systems, implementing safe operational procedures and ensuring that the design and installation of all new systems conform to current standards.

Micro-organisms that cause gastro-intestinal infection mainly spread from person to person
following contact with faeces (e.g. rotavirus, Clostridium difficile). Micro-organisms transmitted by food can be spread to others by cross-infection. In outbreaks of food-borne illness, crossinfection may cause what are described as secondary cases of infection, occurring several days after the main outbreak (Wilson, 1995).

Viruses, notably small round structured viruses, are readily spread from person to person through aerosols and environmental contamination from vomiting. Outbreaks of infection in hospitals caused by cross-infection are frequently reported. Rotavirus is a very common cause of diarrhoea in children and has been reported as causing extensive outbreaks of infection.

Keeping the patient free from infection is an ever-increasing challenge considering new technology,
increased use of immune-suppressive drugs and the increased use of invasive devices. The cost benefits
from a good infection control programme are well documented and recognised. Early discharge from
hospital moves infection control from the hospital into the wider community and into a number of
different settings.

The Trust’s Infection Control and Decontamination Committee has developed this Policy and Procedure Manual, in conjunction with members of the Integrated Clinical Governance Committee, for Doctors, Dentists, Community and Practice Nurses, Podiatrists, other clinical professionals and practice managers working in Primary Care and Community Services, who wish to fulfil their legal and professional obligations with regards to both control of communicable disease, infection prevention and infection control. It also identifies and minimises risks to colleagues and patients in order that benefits can be realised for improved patient care and avoidance of disease.

This document describes the procedures to be followed in an event of an outbreak of infection within the Heart of Birmingham teaching Primary Care Trust. This policy must be used in conjunction with the Primary Care Trust emergency plans.

The following policy details the action to be taken when a member of Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust staff is occupationally exposed to blood or body fluids. All staff members have a responsibility to comply with the Heart of Birmingham teaching Primary Care Trust guidance to protect the health and safety of themselves and others. This includes attendance at mandatory training
and compliance with policies for Infection Control. Staff must also comply with the immunisation procedures of the Good Hope Occupational Health Department.

The general public and staff have a right to expect that any potential hazards in a healthcare environment are adequately controlled. All staff have a responsibility for the prevention and control of infection in their area of work. Not only is this part of their professional duty of care to the patients with whom they are involved, but it is also their responsibility to themselves and to other patients and staff members under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 require actions to be taken to control the risk from hazardous substances, including biological agents.

Legislation exists in relation to hospital, acute setting, secondary and similar healthcare establishments covering building construction requirements, the design of and the facilities that must be available in operating theatres which include minimum standards for displacement of the airspace to reduce the risk of infection to patients and to protect staff from harmful organisms and/or substances. Unfortunately much of this legislation does not reflect or easily lend itself to health centres, clinic settings and other premises where minor operative procedures are undertaken. However, the importance of minimising the risk of infection cannot be sufficiently emphasised. It is important for General Practitioners, Dentists, Podiatrists etc. and their staff to comply with existing legislation,

Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been described as a very challenging health care associated infection (HCAI) to face health care providers. A less resistant form which is Staphylococcus aureus and is a gram positive bacterium which is present in the normal flora of the nose of about 30% of individuals and the perineum of approximately 15%. The reason that MRSA presents health care with such a challenge is because it does not respond well with commonly used antibiotics. It can be carried
transiently on the hands and survives well in the care environment, on skin scales and in dust. Other sites (e.g. axilla, perineum, broken skin) are colonized less frequently.

Personal Protective Equipment is worn to protect the individual and prevent contamination of gross matter and associated microorganisms either from or to patients and/or staff, staff uniforms/work attire which could then contaminate equipment and/or the immediate care environment.

This document describes the procedures to be followed when collecting and handling specimens in a manner that will reduce the risk of real or potential cross infection. This policy must be used in conjunction with the Trust and Directorate Infection Control Policy and Procedure Manual and the disposal of body fluids/urine policy.

Safe handling and disposal of sharps is a vital component of the Universal (Standard) Precautions approach to reduce the risk of injury and/or transmission of blood borne virus in the occupational/work place setting. With many health care workers using sharps in their everyday practice, it is important that correct use and disposal is of a high standard to safeguard both the staff and patients/visitors to the health care premises or during care/intervention in any environment. This policy outlines the practices approved to reduce/minimise the risk of inoculation injury. Should an inoculation injury occur then the procedure described in Section 2.2 – Inoculation Policy
must be actioned as soon as possible.

Infection Control is of prime importance within the PCT and is an important component of Clinical Governance and a key Controls Assurance Organisational Control Standard. It is essential to the safety of our patients, their families and carers. All Trust staff should seek to offer their clients/patients care and treatment that minimises the risk of infection and controls the risk it presents. This will involve the employment of a series of actions and specific precautions that have been developed to minimise the risk of contamination or cross infection. These are known as Universal or Standard precautions and this policy provides guidance on the use of these precautions.

The purpose of this guidance is to provide healthcare workers who provide clinical care and/or practice in primary care and community settings with a practical working document to underpin safe working practices in relation to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE).

Type:	Policy
Category:	Control of Infection
Reference No:	COI/020
Version:	1.
Approval:	Approved by HOB PCT Integrated Governance Committe on 01 November 2008
Person responsible:	Infection Control Lead.
Policy contact:	Michael Coltman (0121 224 4073)
Tape format:	û
Hard copy only:	û