INFECTION CONTROL

1. INFECTION CONTROL FOR VOLUNTEERS Jodie Burr Infection Control Coordinator Women’s and Children’s Hospital

2. Infection Control Unit • 24 hour infection control service • during office hours page 18041 • after hours ring 9 for infectious diseases, consultant on call. • Infection Control Team meet weekly, concerns, enquiry's, issues can be discussed.

3. Primary Role of Infection Control • Prevent nosocomial infections • Reduce mortality, morbidity, and cost • Educate and advise • staff • patients • their families • the community • Surveillance of nosocomial infections • Policy development, implementation and assessment

4. Nosocomial Infections • DEFINITION: • An infection occurring in a patient in whom it was not present or incubating at the time of admission. Essentially, an infection the patient acquired from being hospitalized

5. Infection Control Precautions • Infection control precautions need to be adhered to by everybody, especially those who come into contact with one or more patients. • This will aid in stopping the spread of nosocomial infections.

6. Hand hygiene • Single most effective method in the prevention of disease transmission • 80% of hospital acquired infections are thought to be transmitted by hands • Wash hands thoroughly if you come into contact with a patient and/or bodily fluids • Cover all cuts and grazes

7. Hand Hygiene • Wear gloves where appropriate and wash hands once gloves are removed • Wash hands before and after meal and toilet breaks • Soap and water - 15 secs • Alcohol hand gels

8. Are you unwell? • Please do not come into hospital to visit or work when you feel or know you are unwell • Infectious diseases may be spread from you to patients or patients to you • Call your supervisor if you are unsure as to whether to come to work

9. Your health • It is important to know your health and immunization history • chicken pox? • measles? • flu vaccination? • For vaccinations contact ICGP or Risk Management

10. Entering Rooms • Patients may be isolated within hospital rooms due to their illness or infectious state • Please take note of signs and if unsure ask a nurse if you should enter • Remember to wash your hands when leaving the room

11. Respiratory Syncitial Virus • Highly contagious and nosocomial infection common • Causes upper and lower respiratory infection • Usually occurs during winter • No vaccine at present • Can be reinfected during the same season • Transmitted by contact or droplet • Can survive for several hours in the environment

12. Rotavirus • Highly contagious and nosocomial infection is common • Usually a winter disease but pattern changing • Onset is sudden and lasts for 4 - 6 days • Mainly infants and children up to 3 years affected • Transmitted usually through contact • Can survive in environment for several hours

13. Varicella Zoster VirusChicken Pox • Highly contagious • Most cases in children, over 90% of adult population is immune • Transmitted by droplet and contact • Infectious 2 days prior and 4 - 6 days after rash • Now a notifiable disease • Vaccination now available