Infection Prevention and Control Department
Infection Prevention and Control within SIVUH is everyone’s responsibility and the staff strive to minimise the risk of infection to the patients, their visitors and to our colleagues at all times. |  |
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Who are we?
- The Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) consists of:
- Consultant Microbiologist
- Infection Prevention and Control Nurses
- Hygiene Co-ordinator
- Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Surveillance scientist
The Infection Prevention and Control Nurses are available Monday to Friday and are happy to answer any queries you may have.
The contact details are (021) 4926381 or (021) 4926000 bleep 766
Services provided by the team include:
· The development of policies, procedures and guidelines to advice staff in ways to reduce the risk of infection to the patients their visitors and staff.
· Education on all aspect of infection prevention and control.
· Guidance for doctors on antimicrobial use for infections.
· Expert advice and education on Multi Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) such as MRSA
· The management of patients who are suspected or known to have a MDROs or communicable infections such as the flu
· Infection Prevention and Control clinic for patients who have been diagnosed pre operatively with MRSA who are due for admission and require education, treatment and screening.
· Antimicrobial stewardship which monitors the usage of antibiotics within the hospital.
· Environmental Audits which looks at the cleanliness within the hospital
Staff on the ward help in reducing the risk of infection by:
· Cleaning their hands as per the World Health Organisations Five Moments for Hand Hygiene in the hospital setting.
· Ensuring that equipment and the environment is kept clean.
· Following policies procedures and guidelines in how to prevent communicable infections
· Advising the IPCT of any infection prevention and control issues
· Attending Education sessions on Infection prevention and control/Hygiene
Patients can help reduce the risk of infection by carrying out the following;
· If you have symptoms of an infection such as diarrhoea and vomiting or flu like illness, contact the relevant department in the hospital before attending.
· If you develop symptoms of infection whilst in hospital advise the staff immediately.
· We ask you to clean your hands as needed and encourage you to ask staff members if they have cleaned their hands before attending to your needs.
· If you have any queries about Infection Prevention and Control Practices please discuss with a member of staff, who will answer your questions or who will contact us on your behalf.
· Do not touch your IV site or wound site.
· Reduce clutter, please do not have unnecessary items on your locker or on floor by your bed as it makes the area more difficult to clean.
· Please help keep our hospital clean by disposing of any rubbish in the bins provided.
Visitors can help reduce the risk of infection by carrying out the following;
· Clean their hands before and after they visit with you.
· If they are feeling unwell or have had an infection such as diarrhoea or vomiting or flu like symptoms, not to visit you until they are 48 hours symptom free
· The SIVUH expects all visitors to comply with isolation practices within the hospital. When visiting a number of patients a patient in isolation should be the last person visited.
· Do not sit on the bed. If there is no chair available please ask a staff member for one.
· Please dispose of all rubbish in the bins provided.
· If an area requires cleaning please advise a member a staff.
Carol Robinson CNM3 Infection Prevention and Control 05/01/2017
