Infection Control Prevention
Nursing Responsibilities
A great deal of information has been published concerning HAIs infections in the long-term-care facility (LTCF). However, application of hospital infection control guidelines to the LTCF is often unrealistic in view of the differences between the acute settings in hospitals and the LTCF and the different infection control resources. It could be argued that while the Infection Control Program (ICP) is well established at Mater Dei Hospital the situation in SVPR is of inadequate standard. Standards and guidelines specific to the LTCF setting are not currently available in Malta.
Since the numbers of HAI’s are several, in this assignment only the most important recommendations and strategies are discussed that apply to the clinical practice at SVPR.
Infection Control Program
Infection control programs (ICP) are among the first organized efforts to improve the quality of healthcare delivered to patients (Nicolle, 2000; Pittet, 2005). A number of authors have discussed the component of infection control program in LTCF (Goldrick, 1999, Nicolle, 2000). However, there are many limitations that affect the type and extent of programs developed. Most authors feel that an infection control program should include some surveillance for infections, an epidemic control program, education of infection control methods, policy and procedure formation and review, an employee health program, a resident health program, and monitoring of resident care practices. The program must also cover environmental review, antibiotic monitoring, product review, and reporting of disease to public health authorities (Goldrick, 1999; Friedman, 1999).
There are three principal goals for healthcare infection control programs regardless of the setting; to protect the patient/resident, to protect the healthcare worker- workers, visitors and others in the facility and to accomplish the previous goals in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner, whenever
A great deal of information has been published concerning HAIs infections in the long-term-care facility (LTCF). However, application of hospital infection control guidelines to the LTCF is often unrealistic in view of the differences between the acute settings in hospitals and the LTCF and the different infection control resources. It could be argued that while the Infection Control Program (ICP) is well established at Mater Dei Hospital the situation in SVPR is of inadequate standard. Standards and guidelines specific to the LTCF setting are not currently available in Malta.
Since the numbers of HAI’s are several, in this assignment only the most important recommendations and strategies are discussed that apply to the clinical practice at SVPR.
Infection Control Program
Infection control programs (ICP) are among the first organized efforts to improve the quality of healthcare delivered to patients (Nicolle, 2000; Pittet, 2005). A number of authors have discussed the component of infection control program in LTCF (Goldrick, 1999, Nicolle, 2000). However, there are many limitations that affect the type and extent of programs developed. Most authors feel that an infection control program should include some surveillance for infections, an epidemic control program, education of infection control methods, policy and procedure formation and review, an employee health program, a resident health program, and monitoring of resident care practices. The program must also cover environmental review, antibiotic monitoring, product review, and reporting of disease to public health authorities (Goldrick, 1999; Friedman, 1999).
There are three principal goals for healthcare infection control programs regardless of the setting; to protect the patient/resident, to protect the healthcare worker- workers, visitors and others in the facility and to accomplish the previous goals in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner, whenever