Blackrock Clinic approach to Infection Prevention and Control
Infections have always been a side effect of medical treatment, especially in hospitals. We are more aware of healthcare -associated infections today because we can recognize these infections easier.
About one third of healthcare associated infections can be prevented. Here at Blackrock Clinic we take a very serious and zero tolerance to infection and are pro active in its prevention. A full time Infection Control Nurse is employed who overseas all aspects of infection control in the hospital and is supported by two consultant Microbiologists.
Steps that we take to prevent infection within are organisation are as follows;
- Hand hygiene facilities available for all persons entering and leaving the hospital
- Careful and appropriate use of antibiotic therapy
- A high standard of environmental cleaning
- Patients with infections will require isolation (being nursed in a single room) to prevent infection spreading from person to person. Visitors may be required to wear aprons before entering patients rooms
- Ongoing education in the prevention and control of infection is given to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals by the Infection Control Team
- Information leaflets for patients and visitors are available in the hospital
In addition visitors do play their part and we ask the following of them
- To avoid close contact if you are sick, have a fever or other symptoms of a contagious illness for example a cough, runny nose, vomiting, or diarhoea. We request that you stay at home and not visit the hospital until the symptoms have subsided for 48 hours. (This incudes children)
- We ask visitors not to sit on beds but to use the chairs provided
- We ask visitors not to change infants nappies in patient rooms but to use the Nappy changing facilities in the bathroom on the ground floor
- Children are not permitted into the ICU department unless under special circumstances
We do hope you find this section of the website specifically dedicated to Infection Control helpful.
The infection Control Team can provide additional information if you have any queries, they can be contacted via this website or by phone 01-2832222 (bleep 27).
sBC24_infection_control_DL_v5.pdf
Here at Blackrock Clinic we screen all elective patients that have been identified as high risk for MRSA.
It is preferable that these are carried out pre admission, but it is acceptable to screen patients on admission. This can aid prompt treatment and prevent infection. The categories of patients who must have an MRSA surveillance screen on admission include;
- Patients known to be previously colonized/ infected with MRSA
- Patients admitted from long stay Institutions and nursing homes
- Patients admitted from other hospitals
- Patients who have been in-patients in hospital within the last six months
- Patients due to undergo elective high-risk surgery
- In patients due to undergo all other general surgery
These screens are usually performed pre-admission by a nurse that works in this particular area.
Weekly MRSA screening during hospital stay can be carried out for some patients. The following inpatients must have a full MRSA screen (nose and groin swab) taken on a weekly basis;
- Patient who were previously colonised with MRSA
- Patients in ICU
- Long term debiliated inpatients that require full nursing care.
Both Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin Sensitive Staphyloccus Aureus (MSSA) can cause the same range of infections. Both of these can be colonized or infected. These infections can be in the form of impetigo, abscess, infected wounds, bone, joint infections and bacterial endocarditis. However, some strains of MRSA appear to spread more easily from patient to patient. Debilitated patients requiring full nursing care and those with open wounds are particularly at risk of colonisation with these strains. MRSA - strains of staphyloccus aureus which are resistant to methicillin flucloxacillin are known as MRSA (i.e Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccus Aureus).
Prevention of Infection
What Measures do Blackrock Clinic have to prevent infection?
Strict adherence to Hand Hygiene is essential in the prevention of infection.
Thorough cleaning is performed prior to any decontamination or sterilisation procedures, as it is an essential pre-requisite to effectve decontamination.
Adherence to standard precautions is maintained.
Protective clothing (a plastic apron, masks and gloves) is worn during all cleaning procedures as required. Mask and goggles or visor mask are also worn whilst cleaning if splashing or the creation of aerosals is likely.
Sensible use of antibiotic therapy is considered by the Medical team. Overuse or unneccesary antibiotic prescribing is not encouraged.
Pre-operative screening for MRSA for high risk patients on admission is esential and is carried out.
Isoloation of patients with Healthcare Associated Infection is carried out with immediate effect to prevent cross contamination. Prompt and correct treatment is prescribed where applicable .
Hand HygieneHand washing / hygiene in the healthcare setting has been promoted for generations and is recognized as the single most important procedure for preventing infection. Hand hygiene guidelines are based on the SARI Infection Control Subcommittee Report and looks at hand hygiene from a strategic as well as a policy implementation perspective. Every healthcare worker has a responsibility to prevent transfer of infection by adhering to and implementing optimal hand hygiene.
Remember ! Clean Hands Save Lives. When to Clean your HandsWash hands when they are visibly contaminated with;
- Dirt
- Soil
- Organic material
- When entering and leving the hospital
- Before and after all patient contact
- After moving from a contaminated to a clean area
- Following contact with an individual patient
- Before and after eating
- After personal bodily functions such as blowing nose and using a lavatory
The 30 second rule with soap and water. It should take 30 seconds to wash your hands
Attached is a helpful Patient Information Leaflet on Handwashing. Please feel free to click and download the information.
What is Clostridium Difficile ?
Clostridium Difficile is an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium that may cause diarrhoea, which ranges in severity from mild, self limiting disease to life threatening pseudomembranous colitis. Clostridium Difficile does not usually cause a problem, as it is kept in check by the normal bacterial population of the intestine. If the bacterial flora is disrupted (usually following antibiotic use) then Clostridium Difficile may flourish and cause disease.
How Does Clostridium Difficile survive and Develop ? Spores are produced when the Clostridium Difficile is outside the usual environmnet of the body. These spores enable the bacteria to survive. Clostridium Difficile spores can survive for up to 70 days in the environment i.e on the blankets, surfaces and floors. Therefore thorough cleaning technique is essential, to prevent cross infection
Who is at Risk?
Patients most at risk are;
- Patients over the age of 65 yrs
- Patients being treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics
- Patients who are severely ill
- Patients who have a prolonged stay in Hospital
Patient equipment can be the source of contamination i.e. bedpans, bed sheets, toilets and crutches or walking aids.
Novovirus / Winter Vomiting Disease
Acute gastroenteritis is a very common illness. A recent study into the problem in Ireland both North and South showed that 4.5% of Irish People are affected by gastroenteritis per year. Hospitals and residential institutions are common locations for outbreaks of infection particularly during winter. Novovirus (also known as SRSV, "Winter Vomiting Disease") is the commonest cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in the community and in healthcare facilities. Since Novovirus is a community infection, outbreaks in settings where people congregate such as hospitals are simply a reflection of the virus in the wider community.
What is Novovirus Exactly?
Novovirus are non-enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the Caliciviradae family. The virus was first identified, in 1972 from an outbreak of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in a school in the town of Norwalk, Ohio.
Novoviruses are highly infectious agents, capable of being spread directly from person to peson, by food and water through air. The virus is very resilient and can survive for prolonged periods in the environment and on surfaces such as door handles or worktops.
How is it Transmitted?
Person to person
The primary mode of transmission is by the faecal-oral route and direct person-to person spread, Vomiting (air-oral mucous membrane), casuing widespread aerosal dissemination of virus particles, environmental contamination and subsequent indirect person to person spread.
Food Borne
Foods that are handled and are not subjected to furtther cooking such as cold meats, salads or sandwiches are commonly implicated in food borne Novovirus infection.
However any food item can potentially transmit Novovirus if it is handled or comes in contact with an infected food handler or is exposed to environmental contamination.
Waterborne
Water and ice are increasingly recognised as vehicles for transmission of Novovirus.
Fomites
Contaminated environment surfaces such as door handles and curtains facilitate indirect person to person transmission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under Construction
Statistics / Infection Rates
Under Construction
Information Leaflets
Attached are some practical information leaflets. Please feel free to click on any that you may have an interest in and download your selection.
Contact Us
We do hope you find this section of the website specifically dedicated to Infection Control helpful.
The infection Control Team can provide additional information if you have any queries, they can be contacted via this website by clicking on the following link:
Infection Prevention & Control email.
or by phone 01-2832222 (bleep 27)