Following correct infection control procedures in care homes is critical.
Not only are infections spread easily in contained environments such as nursing care homes, or hospitals, or schools, but care home residents are often susceptible to infections. That's because they are very often elderly, suffering from medical conditions that may affect their immunity, they may have open wounds from surgery, be fed via tube or have an IV. All of which present potential sites for infection.
If two or more people (residents or staff) in the same care home get the same infection, then it is classified as an outbreak. As such, all nursing care staff have the responsibility to observe correct infection control procedure at all times.
Responsibility of Care Home Staff
All care home staff have a responsibility to contribute towards effective infection control in the care home setting. This means observing infection control procedures and protecting your own health, as well as that of your residents.
If you’re caring for sick or vulnerable residents and you come to work unwell, you could potentially pass on your illness to those you’re caring for. If you are unwell, it is best to stay away from work until well after your symptoms have cleared. You may still be able to infect others even if you no longer feel unwell.
Hand Hygiene
Infections are easily transmitted between people if poor hand hygiene is observed. Even if your hands look clean, they could still be covered in bacteria and other microorganisms that could potentially infect residents and other staff. The importance of hand hygiene in healthcare settings is obvious, but good hand washing practice is essential for preventing the spread of infection among care home staff and residents. Quickly running your hands under the tap is not enough, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, using warm water and soap, and ensuring that all hand surfaces are cleaned up to the wrist. Use paper towels to dry your hands and to turn off the taps, and ensure that these are disposed of properly in a pedal bin.
You need to think about when you should be washing your hands throughout the day. Here are a few examples of when you will need to wash your hands:
• At the start of your nursing shift • Before and after attending to each resident • After helping residents use the toilet • If you have come into contact with any bodily fluids • After you have used the toilet • Before and after preparing or handling food
Laundry
Bedding and other laundry in care homes is often exposed to bodily fluids. As such, it is imperative that dirty and clean laundry are never allowed to mix. Wear gloves and a protective apron when you are handling laundry or changing bedding. Any used linen should be put straight into a bag or trolley and not left on the floor of the bedroom or laundry room, and soiled laundry should be kept separate from regular used laundry.
General Cleaning
Cleaning schedules should be followed strictly. All areas should be kept clean at all times. Hard surfaces should be wiped regularly with hot water and disinfectant. Soft furnishings should be vacuumed every day, and steam cleaned when required.
Cleaning equipment for infection control should be stored safely and out of the way so that it is easily accessible when required. You should also have a color coding system in place for cleaning equipment to ensure that cross contamination does not occur across different areas of the care home.