Tips on preventing and controlling infection in the care industry

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Supporting infection prevention and control in care settings is an essential way to help people stay healthy and safe. A 2022 study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that with good hand hygiene and other practices 70% of infections can be prevented.

We’re here to provide some ways you can help prevent the spread of infection, but first, let’s explore infection prevention and control a little more.

What is infection prevention and control?

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s all about how you prevent and control the spread of infection.

WHO define IPC as “a practical, evidence-based approach preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections”.

The key to preventing the spread is breaking the chain of infection. This chain contains 6 links:

Pathogen: The micro-organism or germ causing the disease.
Reservoir: Where the pathogens live and replicate
Portal of exit: How they leave the reservoir
Means of transmission: How do they move from one place or person to another
Portal of entry: How they enter another person
Susceptible host: A person who is vulnerable to infection

Ways of breaking the chain include things such as hand hygiene, regular cleaning, or completing a course of antibiotics. We’ll explore ways to support infection prevention and control in care settings shortly.

Who is responsible for infection prevention and control?

All members of staff are responsible for infection prevention and control. In order to help prevent the spread of disease and infection, it’s vital that carers take responsibility themselves as it’s an essential part of protecting and caring for patients/people.

Why is infection prevention and control important?

In the care industry, it’s extremely important that effective infection control measures are put in place and carried out. Here’s why:

Protect vulnerable individuals

Those in care often have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections. This is one of the biggest reasons why supporting infection prevention and control in care settings is so crucial.

Prevent outbreaks

With close contact between residents and staff, can become breeding grounds for outbreaks if proper hygiene practices aren’t followed. IPC protocols help control the spread of infectious diseases, preventing outbreaks that can overwhelm staff and resources and impact the health of everyone.

Reduce healthcare costs

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can increase the strain on care facilities. Effective IPC programs can significantly reduce the number of HAIs, leading to lower treatment costs and reducing the strain.

Ethical responsibilities

Providing safe and hygienic care is an ethical responsibility of all care providers. Following IPC protocols ensures residents receive the care they deserve.

How to prevent and control the spread of infection

Hand hygiene

As seen by the WHO research statistic, effective hygiene can prevent the spread of a lot of infection. Staff should clean their hands before seeing the patient and after coming into contact with them.

Respiratory hygiene

Covering your nose and mouth using a tissue when coughing, sneezing, or blowing/wiping your nose are all simple, yet effective. We’ve all heard of the Catch It, Bin It, Kill It slogan.

PPE

Where needed, wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Following your PPE procedures when dealing with patients that may have an infection is crucial in preventing the spread of infection to staff. Learn more about this with PPE training.

Cleaning

If cleaning staff are dealing with bodily fluids or in areas where patients are ill, then it’s important that they know what products to use, how often the area needs to be cleaned and how to clean/dispose of blood/bodily fluids.

Washing clothes and bedding

For care staff that are doing laundry and washing bed sheets and clothes of ill patients, it’s also important that they follow the right procedure for washing so that the spread of infection is prevented and germs are killed. This could be by including pre-wash in the cycle or other things.

Waste disposal

Waste disposal in healthcare environments is something that needs to be controlled and carried out correctly. With PPE, bodily fluids and more potentially carrying infection, it’s essential that they are effectively disposed of.

Boost your staff’s IPC skills with iHasco

We hope this blog helped you understand how to prevent and control the spread of infection in the care industry.

If you’re looking for more ways to boost your employees’ IPC skills, then check out our Infection Prevention and Control Training course! The CPD Accredited course covers everything your staff need to know to keep your care organisation safe. We also offer a range of other care training courses that are designed for care organisations like yours. We cover many different areas, including:

We’re already helping thousands of organisations just like yours, and we’d like to help you too. Why not check out our range of courses for the care sector today by claiming your free, no-obligation trial? Alternatively, you can request a bespoke quote and we’ll be in touch to discuss your unique training requirements.