Infection prevention and control in care homes: information resource published

Source: Department of Health

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Date of publication: February 2013

In a nutshell: An information resource and summary for care workers on the prevention and control of infection in care homes has been published.  It aims to assist staff in taking all reasonable steps to protect residents and staff from acquiring infections and cross infection; and provide information and guidance on infection prevention and control that will assist managers undertaking risk assessments and in developing policies.

Length of publication: 98 pages

Senior nurses form new hand hygiene ‘alliance’

Source: Nursing Times 

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Date of publication: October 2012

In a nutshell: A group of senior infection control nurses have come together with patient groups to try and prevent the loss of progress made on hand hygiene over the past decade.

NICE Bites: infection control

Source: North West Medicines Information Service

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Date of publication: April 2012

In a nutshell: This NICE Bites bulletin from the North West Medicines Information Service covers infection control. The aim of this publication is to provide healthcare professionals with a clear and succinct summary of key prescribing points taken from NICE guidance.

S.T.O.P. – a new campaign to prevent infections from PVCs and catheters

 Source: 1000 Lives Plus

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Date of publication: July 2012

In a nutshell:  Infection Prevention and Control Staff in Hywel Dda Health Board and Velindre Cancer Centre have officially launched the S.T.O.P. campaign to improve the safety of patient care through improved management of urinary catheters and intravenous cannulas.  Patients with these devices are at risk of infection if they aren’t applied or used correctly.  Frontline staff are being asked to S.T.O.P. and assess whether the patient they are caring for needs a device and if one is in place to question whether it’s still needed or could be removed.

Innovative products aim to ‘Design Bugs Out’

Source: Department of Health

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Date of publication: Nov 2011

In a nutshell: The Design Bugs Out (DBO) project aimed to bring designers and manufacturers together with clinical specialists, patients and frontline staff to help combat infections by making hospital furniture and equipment easier and quicker to clean. This report details the subsequent evaluation of four DBO products: a commode, bedside cabinet, patient chair and overbed table.

Length of publication: 24 pages

Bio-Cav40 Ultrasonic Cleaning: potential to reduce healthcare associated infections?

Source: Department of Health 

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Date of publication: Nov 2011

In a nutshell: Bio-Cav40 Ultrasonic Cleaning is a cleaning technology that has been used in industry such as automotive, sporting, printing, marine, medical, pharmaceutical, electro-plating, engineering and weapons industries.  It can be used in healthcare to clean items such as wheelchairs, commodes, IV stands and furniture.

Length of publication: 23 pages

Local quality monitoring of infection control

Nursing Standard, volume 25, issue 10, pages 24-5

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Date of publication: November 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust have implemented a quality monitoring programme implemented at based on the Essence of Care benchmarks.  Every ward is ranked on fifteen standards including infection control, medicine administration, discharge planning and falls.

Length of publication: 3 pages

Some important notes: Your NHS Athens username and password are required to access this article.

High impact action to reduce infections

Source: Nursing Management UK, volume 17, issue 6, pages 14-19

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Date of publication: October 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Third in a series on the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement publication, ‘High Impact Actions for Nursing and Midwifery’.  This article examines the importance of aseptic technique for the prevention of urinary tract and other infections.  A local initiative to reduce cases of ventilator associated pneumonia, and central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections are described.

Length of publication: 6 pages

Some important notes: Your NHS Athens username and password is required to access the full text of this article.

Single hospital rooms don’t reduce infection rates

Source: NursingTimes.net

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Date of publication: October 2010

Publication type: News story

In a nutshell: Research commissioned by the Department of Health has revealed that patients like single rooms but outcomes are not necessarily any better.  The study analysed 1289 patients in gastroenterology, haematology and general medicine wards, as well as 120 patient questionnaires.  There was no evidence lengths of stay were lower in single rooms and a small reduction in infections in the study wards was attributed to declining rates of C difficile.

Length of publication: Web page

Development of a tool for assessing the safe preparation of parenteral medicines in clinical environments

Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing, volume 19, issue 11-12, pages 1569-77

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Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: To reduce risks to patients from medication error and microbiological contamination, a tool was developed to allow preparation of parenteral medicines to be scored for risk before being prepared in clinical areas.  Highest risk items are now targeted for transfer to pharmacy for preparation.  This work was adopted by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and was subsequently issued as Patient Safety Alert 20 (Injectable Medicines).

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library for the full text of this article.

Length of publication: 9 pages

Selecting reusable equipment that is fit for purpose

Source: Nursing Times, volume 106, issue 27, pages 15-7

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Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: An infection prevention and control team (IPCT) identified a commode chair that would meet the needs of patients and could be cleaned and disinfected easily. The process followed to ensure the commode was fit for purpose could be applied when searching for other reusable equipment to ensure it meets patients’ needs and meets infection control guidelines.

Length of publication: Web page

How to run a successful seasonal flu jab campaign

Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal [July 19 e-pub ahead of print]

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Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: A review by Canadian researchers has concluded that the most successful way to run a seasonal flu vaccination campaign is to use a combination of interventions.  The authors also state that “campaigns involving legislative or regulatory components (e.g., mandatory declination form, mandatory masks for unvaccinated personnel) achieved higher rates than other interventions”.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Acknowledgement: NursingTimes.net