Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices - College ...

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL BEST PRACTICES
FOR LONG TERM CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE INCLUDING HEALTH CARE OFFICES AND AMBULATORY CLINICS
Routine Practices prevent transmission of microorganisms in most settings and include the following
requirements (see PIDAC Routine Practices Poster- Appendix IIB):
1. Hand hygiene is the single most important thing to do to prevent transmission of infection. Although
health care providers know the importance of hand hygiene, studies continue to show health care providers
perform hand hygiene less than half the time they should. Hand hygiene should be performed:
� Before providing care to the client
� Between dirty and clean activities
� When PPE is removed
� When leaving the client
� Use alcohol-based hand rub at 60-90% concentration ethyl or isopropyl or
Hand washing with plain liquid soap and running water.
� The use of alcohol-based hand rub is the prefered method of decontamination of hands that are not
visibly soiled and should be available at the point of care.
� Use hand hygiene after touching blood, body fluids, excretions and contaminated items in the client/
resident’s environment.
� Wash hands:
� after removing gloves
� between clients/residents
� before contact with clean items
� before aseptic practices on a patient
Hand hygiene also includes caring for hands to maintain intact skin. Regular use of hand lotion is
recommended.
See attached Hand Hygiene Fact Sheet (Appendix IIA).
2a. Screening for communicable diseases (coughs, colds and diarrhea). In the clinic setting, ask simple
questions.
� Do you have a new cough or shortness of breath?
� If no – no further questions.
� If yes – Do you have a new fever or chills in the last 24 hours?
� Do you have new onset diarhea?
� Do you have a new undiagnosed rash?
See attached Sample Screening Poster and Example Screening Questionnaire (Appendix IIC&D).
2b. Risk Assessment: there are two levels of assessment required.
i. Point of entry or while booking appointments over the phone, a screening for fever, cough or respiratory
symptoms, rash or diarrhea is done.
Script for appointment booking:
If you have symptoms of fever and cough, diarrhea or rash within 24 hours of your next appointment or
visit, then let this office (or health care provider) know before the scheduled appointment (or visit).
ii. Assessment should be standardized during the admission process to include the screening questions plus
asking about recent exposures to infectious disease such as Chickenpox, Measles or Tuberculosis and recent
travel depending on what is prevalent in your community. Other questions would include:
� Do they have a cough and are not able to follow respiratory etiquette?
[13]
Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance