The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control Case Study

1.1, 1.2 Employee and employer responsibility

In order to prevent and control infections, both employees and employers play important roles. Employees are responsible for following health and safety guidelines implemented by the employer, along with wearing appropriate protective gear, following proper hygiene practices, and involving in training sessions on infection control (Reddy, Valderrama and Kuhar, 2019). Any potential risks or hazards should be reported by the employees promptly to the authority and maintain a clean workplace environment.

On the other hand, employers are responsible for establishing and enforcing infection control policies, providing necessary training and resources to employees, ensuring employees have easy access to protective equipment and hygiene facilities, conducting risk assessments, and maintaining a safe workplace culture (Simpson and Sandrin, 2021). They should also interact effectively regarding infection control measures. Apart from that, they must offer guidance and support to employees, and regularly update and review protocols based on new policies or developments of the government.

2.1 Legislation and regulatory body standards

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This act is for employers to ensure workplace safety.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002: This is to impose guidelines for handling hazardous materials.
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: This act is followed for risk assessments and strategy implementation to enforce preventive measures (Gov.UK, 2023).
• Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984: This is effective for authorities to control infectious diseases and take steps to prevent spreading.
• Healthcare-associated Infections (HCAI) Standards: These are guidelines for healthcare settings, to manage infection prevention and to ensure control measures are implemented properly (Gov.UK, 2023).

2.2 Local and organisational policies

Local and organizational policies in the UK for infection control differ based on specific sectors but generally cover several key aspects, which are

• Healthcare Settings: These facilities often have multiple and strong infection control policies. These include hand hygiene protocols for patients and staff, isolation procedures for contagious patients, disinfection and sterilization practices, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) (Sahoo et al. 2020).
• Education Institutions: These institutions may have policies to promote good hygiene practices among students, employees, and visitors. Also, policies for a clean environment are included here.
• Workplaces: These are the offices and business organizations that follow policies on cleaning schedules, sanitation, use of PPE, and protocols for managing the health and hygiene of employees to prevent the spread of infections.
• Public Spaces: Local authorities implement different policies for public spaces in the UK to prevent infection spread (Brooks et al. 2021). These policies include regulations on waste disposal guidelines, sanitation in restaurants, and monitoring of food handling practices in order to minimize infection risks.

3.1 Procedures and Systems

• Red Bag: This is used for the disposal of hazardous clinical waste, such as items contaminated with bodily fluids, blood, or infectious materials.
• Yellow Bag: This is used for infectious or potentially infectious waste which are not hazardous, like non-sharp items contaminated with body fluids but can spread infection (Michaels and Wagner, 2020).
• Black Bag: General non-infectious waste is disposed of in these bags which do not pose a biological hazard.
• Sharps Bin: Specifically used for the safe disposal of sharp items like syringes, needles, or blades, in order to prevent accidental injuries and contamination.

3.2 Potential impact of an outbreak of infection

Infection outbreaks can significantly affect individuals, causing emotional stress, health issues, and financial strain due to illness or caregiving. In the case of organizations, it can lead to operational disruptions, along with hampering productivity, causing financial losses from absenteeism, bad organisational image, and potential legal consequences (Gordon and Thompson, 2020). Containing outbreaks requires strong infection control measures, fast response procedures, and clear communication to mitigate the emotional, physical, and financial impacts on both individuals and the organization.

4.1 Risk

Risk means the probability of damage, harm, or loss occurring due to uncertain situations. It involves analysing their likelihood, potential adverse outcomes, and impacts, for informed decision-making and implementation of preventive measures to mitigate potential harms.

4.2 Potential risks of infections within the workplace

Potential infections possibly can happen in workplace include the spreading germs of infection among employees, rapid sickness, lowered productivity due to sick leaves, along with increased healthcare burden, compromising quality of work, damaging brand image, and legal rsponsibilities (Salomé et al. 2019).

4.3, 4.4 Process of carrying out a risk assessment

Risk assessment procedures are included with several steps. Initially, it is needed to identify potential hazards that can occur in the workplace that could lead to spread of disease, such as exposure to infectious elements, maintaining poor hygiene practices, or lack of air ventilation. Then, it is important to assess the chances of happening of these hazards which may increase the risk and the severity of the possible consequences (Marantika and Dwihestie, 2020). Finally, it is important to evaluate control measures in place to mitigate these risks. Risk assessment ensures adherence to health and safety regulations, protects employees from health issues, and minimizes the likelihood of workplace health hazards. Moreover, they help in prioritizing the allocation of safety maintenance resources and decision-making by identifying factors that require immediate attention, ultimately reducing infection, healthcare costs, and legal issues.

5.2 Personal protective equipment

• Gloves: These help to avoid contamination from hands and save them from potential exposure to infectious materials. Gloves can be made of various materials (latex, nitrile, vinyl) and are used in different industries to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination.
• Aprons: Designed to protect the body and clothing from spills, splashes, or contact with infectious substances. They're mainly used in food handling, laboratories, healthcare settings, and cleaning industries.
• Hair Nets/Covers: Primarily used in healthcare, food preparation, and cleanroom environments as hair can contaminate the environment or wounds. They maintain this hygiene standard by keeping hair away from open surfaces.
• Shoe Covers: Dirt and infectious agents may be brought with shoes. Hence, these coverings prevent the spread of contaminants from footwear. They're useful in laboratories, cleanrooms, or environments where strict hygiene protocols are followed to prevent contamination.

5.3, 5.4 PPE

The primary reasons for use of PPE include:

• Protection: PPE is used as a shield against chemical, physical, biological, and other hazards present in the workplace, and thus protects the workers from hazards and illness.
• Prevention of Contamination: This is important to prevent the spread of infectious agents, making sure a clean and safe environment.
• Regulation and Legislation in the UK: Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002. These regulations mandate the proper use and supply of PPE in the workplace. As per this regulation, it is the responsibility of employers to provide PPE to the employees and ensure its proper maintenance, use, and storage. Apart from that, they must offer adequate training to employees. The regulations also mention the standards and requirements for PPE to provide the highest safety and endurance.

5.6 Responsibilities regarding the use of PPE

In this regard, the responsibilities of the employers are to provide PPE to the employees as per requirement and to enforce policies and practices to use them. Their usage should be monitored and proper training should be provided. On the other hand, employees must follow the instructions and make sure to inform the employer, in case of any emergency.

5.7 Practice in the application and removal of PPE

Application process -

• Hand Hygiene: Hands should be cleaned thoroughly before putting on PPE.

• Donning: It is important to follow a specific order to put on each piece of equipment, making sure that it fits well.
• Adjustment: Perfect fit and comfort should be checked, avoiding face touching during use.

Removal process -

• Gloves: These should be removed carefully without touching the outer surface and disposed them.
• Hand Hygiene: Hands should be washed thoroughly.
• Other PPE: Removing PPE should be done systematically, to avoid contamination. They should be discarded or disinfected as needed. This should be followed by hand washing.

5.8 Correct procedure for the disposal of used PPE

• Removal: The initial step is to take off PPE systematically and when doing it must avoid contact with the exterior, and it should be disposed of immediately.
• Segregation: Different types of PPE should be categorised and separated based on contamination level or hazardousness.
• Containment: Used PPE should disposed of in leak-proof containers, sealing them securely (Hadaway, 2020).
• Designated Bins: All the disposable bags should be put in the designated bins to avoid contamination.
• Adherence to Regulations: Ensure compliance with local regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal.
• Hand Hygiene: It is important to wash hands thoroughly and rinse them with warm water after handling and disposing of used PPE.

6.1 Key principles of good personal hygiene

Good personal hygiene includes practices that prevent the spread of infections and maintain well-being. Key principles include:

• Hand Hygiene: Regularly clean hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, or handling potentially infectious items. Also, this should be followed by getting in contact with any ill person (Salomé et al. 2019).
• Respiratory Hygiene: It is to be followed when coughing or sneezing. It is important to cover the mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow to prevent spreading germs.
• Body Hygiene: This includes using clean clothes, showering or bathing daily, cleaning nails and maintaining oral hygiene by brushing teeth twice a day.
• Healthy Habits: Staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are some healthy habits for the immune system.

6.2 Correct sequence for hand washing

• Wet Hands: Wetting the hands thoroughly under running water is the first step.
• Apply Soap: Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of the hands.
• Lather: The next step is to rub hands palm to palm, lathering the soap to the front and back of each hand, under nails, and between fingers for at least 20 seconds (Salomé et al. 2019).
• Scrub: Scrubbing the hands back and forth with fingertips is important.
• Rinse: The next step is to rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
• Dry: The final step is to dry the hands with a fresh and clean towel (Brooks et al. 2021).

6.4 When and why hand washing should be carried out

Hand washing should be done at key times. These are included before and after cooking food, before eating, and after eating. after using the restroom, after sneezing or coughing, and after touching a potentially contaminated area or elements. It's essential to remove germs, dirt, and pathogens from hands to avoid the spread of infections (Michaels and Wagner, 2020). Also, hand washing is important after shaking hands with an ill person. Proper hand hygiene is important in safeguarding personal health, breaking the chain of infection transmission, and reducing the contamination risk.

6.5 Types of products that should be used for hand washing

• Soap: Regular soap or hand wash which effectively removes dirt, oils, and most disease germs from hands should be used.
• Hand Sanitizer: Alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content should be used in case water or soap is not available for hand washing (Hadaway, 2020).

Also, sterile and sanitised wipes can be used as well to clean hands if neither soap nor sanitizer is available. If none of these are available, lukewarm water can be used for thorough hand washing. The right product should be used based on the activities done with the hands and the chances of contamination.

6.6 Correct procedures that relate to skincare

• Regular Cleansing: Like hands, washing the face is equally important. Gentle cleansers are suitable for this purpose and they should be chosen based on skin type. It is important to wash the face twice daily to remove dirt and impurities without removing natural oils.
• Hydration: This is important for skin health. Applying moisturizer and drinking enough water is important to keep skin hydrated and protected. Products with hyaluronic acid and glycerin are preferable (Reddy, Valderrama, and Kuhar, 2019).
• Sun Protection: Broad-spectrum sunscreen should be used to protect skin from harmful sun rays and UV rays.
• Healthy Diet and Hydration: Consumption of a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and drinking plenty of water is the natural way for healthy skin.

References

Brooks, S.K., Greenberg, N., Wessely, S. and Rubin, G.J., 2021. Factors affecting healthcare workers’ compliance with social and behavioural infection control measures during emerging infectious disease outbreaks: Rapid evidence review. BMJ open, 11(8), p.e049857.

Gordon, C. and Thompson, A., 2020. Use of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. British Journal of Nursing, 29(13), pp.748-752.

Gov.UK, 2023. Preventing and controlling infections. UK Health Security Agency. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/preventing-and-controlling-infections [Accessed on: 7th December, 2023]

Hadaway, A., 2020. Handwashing: clean hands save lives. Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet, 24(1), pp.43-49.

Marantika, A. and Dwihestie, L.K., 2020. The Effect of Health Counseling on Handwashing Technique in Primary Schools. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 2(3), pp.217-224.

Michaels, D. and Wagner, G.R., 2020. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jama, 324(14), pp.1389-1390.

Mosadeghrad, A.M., Qazanfari, F. and Keykhani, S., 2022. Hospital Infection Control accreditation standards: A Comparative Review. Journal of Health & Safety at Work, 12(1).

Reddy, S.C., Valderrama, A.L. and Kuhar, D.T., 2019. Improving the use of personal protective equipment: applying lessons learned. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69(Supplement_3), pp.S165-S170.

Sahoo, S., Padhy, S.K., Ipsita, J., Mehra, A. and Grover, S., 2020. Demystifying the myths about COVID-19 infection and its societal importance. Asian journal of psychiatry, 54, p.102244.

Salomé, G.M., da Cunha, A.L., Pereira, A.P., Miranda, F.D. and Alves, J.R., 2019. Educational handbook for healthcare professionals: Preventing complications and treating peristomal skin. Journal of Coloproctology, 39(04), pp.332-338.

Simpson, R. and Sandrin, R., 2021. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by police during a public health crisis: An experimental test of public perception. Journal of experimental criminology, pp.1-23.