Infection control when working in a health care facility

 1. What is infection control? 

Infection Control is the prevention of the spread of microorganisms from:  

· Patient to patient  

· Patient to Staff member  

· Staff member to patient    

2. Who practices infection control? 

· YOU should adhere to the Infection Control Policies and Procedures when practising in a health care facility. 

· Every health care facility should have a nominated person or team to ensure Infection Control Policies and Procedures are in place, check with your shift leader / Unit Manager when necessary. 

· It is very important to follow these policies as the ill patients are often treated in confined spaces, and the patients come into contact with many staff members who can potentially spread the microorganisms/infections.  

 3. Standard Precautions 

As you may not be able to tell who is infected, it is best practice to use ‘standard precautions’ that will help to stop the spread of infections, these are: 

· Frequent hand washing. 

· The appropriate use of gloves. 

· The use of other personal protective equipment, such as eye protection, masks, aprons and gowns. 

· The safe use and disposal of sharp instruments, such as needle and syringes. 

· The use of disposable equipment where applicable and available. 

· Correct cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of non-disposable equipment. 

· Safe collection, storage and disposal of waste. 

· The appropriate use of cleaning agents.   

4. What is frequent hand washing? 

Always wash your hands thoroughly using soap and running water: 

 · At the start and finish of your work shift.

· Before and after physical contact with a patient. 

· After handling contaminated items, such as bedpans, urine bottles and dressings (gloves should also be used here). · After removing gloves. 

· Before and after eating, drinking and smoking. 

· Before and after toileting. 

· After blowing your nose or covering a sneeze. 

· Whenever hands become obviously soiled. 

Gloves are not a substitute for hand washing. Gloves should be worn when you can be potentially exposed to blood or body substances.