Healthcare associated infections
February 2006
Recommendations
For the prevention and control of HCAIs to be effective, a multi-dimensional approach is required at both an institutional and individual level. Infection prevention and control activities have to be embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently by everyone. Healthcare professionals have a number of responsibilities in reducing the burden and level of HCAIs. There is no point in adhering to these intermittently or following some guidelines and not others. It is imperative that all healthcare professionals share this responsibility for infection prevention and control, rather than some doing it and not others.
- Healthcare professionals should be aware of the current evidence-based national guidelines for the control and prevention of HCAIs, and ensure these are effectively implemented in every clinical setting.
- Healthcare professionals should ensure they comply with the high standards of hygiene in clinical practice, and in particular with respect to:
hand hygiene protocols
the use of personal protective equipment
the safe disposal of sharps
dress code in the clinical setting.
- Healthcare professionals should ensure they adhere to guidelines on the management and use of indwelling devices including urinary catheters, central venous catheters, arterial catheters, enteral and parenteral feeding equipment, peripheral intravenous cannulae and respiratory support equipment.
- To reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance, healthcare professionals should ensure they achieve optimal antimicrobial prescribing.
- In addition to carrying out their own responsibilities appropriately, healthcare professionals are duty bound to ensure that their colleagues fulfil their responsibilities with regard to infection prevention and control.
- Senior healthcare professionals should lead by example by demonstrating good infection control and hygiene practices. This should include ensuring that junior staff members adhere to the same principles.
- Healthcare professionals and managers should ensure that they provide clear information to patients on HCAIs and advice on how they can help to prevent and control them.