Infection Control Horizon Scanning Volume 2 Issue 6

Robots employed to do ‘dirty tasks’

Source: BBC News

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Stirlingshire, is the first hospital in the UK to introduce robots to assist in day-to-day tasks such as carry clinical waste, deliver food, clean the operating theatre and dispense drugs. It is hoped that the robots can contribute to reducing infection by carrying out ‘dirty tasks’ such as take dirty linen or clinical waste away and clean theatre floors.

Length of publication: Web page

Specially designed lockers reduce infection risk

Source: Nursing Times

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: May 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust is piloting the use of specially designed bedside lockers as an additional infection control measure. The lockers have smooth surfaces, removable drawers and no crevices or joins, to facilitate thorough cleaning. The lockers also include a shelf to allow staff to write on notes at the bedside and additional storage space for medicines.

Length of publication: Web page

Draft guidance on microbiological testing

Source: Health Protection Scotland

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: Practice guidelines

In a nutshell: Health Protection Scotland has produced draft guidance on the equipment and procedures that should be used when taking samples for the purposes of testing for microbiological contamination in hospital environments. The guidance is currently out for consultation, with the final version to be published in autumn 2010. The guidance covers the investigation of hospital incidents (food poisoning or legionnaire’s disease outbreaks) as well as routine testing of hospital environments.

Length of publication: 24 pages

Single use anaesthetic safety tray to reduce infection risk

Source: Nursing Times

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: A single use anaesthetics safety trasy has been developed by Vernacare. Its aim is to reduce infection control risk and operating theatre error. The tray includes different compartments for syringes, ampoules and sharps. It is hoped that single use of the tray will reduce infection control risk associated with re-use of equipment.

Length of publication: Web page

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