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Infection Control

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)

Before undertaking any care task or procedure, staff should assess any likely exposure to blood and/or body fluids and ensure PPE is worn that provides adequate protection against the risks associated with the procedure or task being undertaken.  SICPs may be insufficient to prevent cross transmission of specific infectious agents. Therefore additional precautions (Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs) are required to be used by staff when caring for patients with a known or suspected infection or colonisation.  This includes choosing the appropriate PPE based on the suspected or known infectious agent, the transmission route of the infectious agent and the care setting and procedures undertaken.

What’s New?

IPC Updated Documents:

IPC training modules can be accessed via learnPro, or speak to your line manager for alternative IPC training options.

The IPC Teams across all sectors provide education sessions for all staff within NHSGGC as well as further education establishments. These can be either ad hoc sessions or set sessions arranged by Practice Development and Learning & Education. Any Senior Charge Nurse, Team Leader or Department Manager can contact their local IPC Team to discuss training needs and plan dates and sessions tailored to meet the needs of their team and departments.

Below is the link to a session provided by IPC. This should not be used as a substitute to attending the face-to-face sessions or undertaking the module via learnPro, but as a support for the learner, or a reference following attendance.

Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) Education
Education Strategy

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards

The prevention and control of infection throughout healthcare is everyone’s responsibility and is a major component in the drive towards a safer NHSScotland.

These Standards are one part of the drive for a safer NHSScotland, so should be seen as complementary to HAI and patient safety work undertaken by other bodies, e.g. Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP). These Standards for HAI apply to all healthcare environments in which patients are treated.

To access our various publications and reports categories, select below. 

Annual Infection Prevention and Control Programme
Infection Prevention and Control Annual Report
CDI Guidance

Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in health and social care settings in Scotland – Scottish Health Protection Network Scottish Guidance No.6 2017 edition (September 2017)

Healthcare Associated Infection Monthly Totals
Infection Prevention and Control Quality Improvement Network – Newsletters

The Infection Prevention and Control Quality Improvement Network Newsletter (IPCQIN) will provide regular updates on the network’s progress.

National Reports

IPCAT (IPC Audit Tool) User Guides:

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards

The prevention and control of infection throughout healthcare is everyone’s responsibility and is a major component in the drive towards a safer NHS Scotland.

These Standards are one part of the drive for a safer NHS Scotland, so should be seen as complementary to HAI and patient safety work undertaken by other bodies, e.g. Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP). These Standards for HAI apply to all healthcare environments in which patients are treated.

The decontamination of near patient equipment and medical devices is crucial to the prevention of healthcare associated infection (HAI). In recent years the Scottish Government have issued guidance and Health Department Letters to provide NHS Boards with information to ensure that this type of equipment is dealt with in line with current standards and guidance.

This page is divided into sections to ensure that staff with a direct responsibility for particular equipment, have the most up-to-date information and training available. Decontamination practice is continually evolving and those with a responsibility for decontamination need to ensure that they are aware of current developments.

If you require advice from the Decontamination Sub-Group please complete the attached Advice Request Form and return to ggc.infectioncontroldecontamination@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

Useful Resources

Endoscopy

This document has been prepared to provide guidance on the technical requirements for the decontamination of flexible endoscopes and the options available. The document is intended to summarise key information on best practice in a manner which is readily accessible to the user/manager.

This guidance has been prepared by utilising published guidance from expert bodies, existing best practice guidance and standards, both published and in draft form. Many of the referenced standards are harmonised standards in respect of the Medical Device Directive.

Endoscope Reprocessing: Guidance on the Requirements for Decontamination Equipment, Facilities and Management.

Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease (CJD)

Caused by unconventional agents thought to be infectious proteins – known as prions. Disease in humans are:

  • Sporadic – classical
  • Familial – including Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI) and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS)
  • Acquired – iatrogenic, variant.

There is evidence that these disorders can be transmitted in specific situations associated with medical interventions, e.g. transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products, surgery with contaminated instruments. During routine clinical care, Standard Precautions are sufficient to prevent cross-infection in healthcare settings. Transmission Based Precautions must be applied when operations or specific invasive procedures are to be undertaken on high-risk tissues or patients identified as being at risk of vCJD.

Guidance from the ACDP TSE Risk Management Subgroup (formerly TSE Working Group) is the most-up-to date guidance on this topic, provided by the Department of Health.

See also the NHSGCC CJD SOP.

Advice Request Forms and Posters
Posters: Cleaning up Blood Spills and Cleaning the General Environment (Titan Chlor Plus)
Posters: Cleaning up Blood Spills and Cleaning the General Environment (Actichlor)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Decontamination

This section contains SOPs that have been developed by the Decontamination Sub-Group following queries by NHSGGC staff in relation to the decontamination of specific pieces of equipment.

The Decontamination Sub-Group will develop SOPs in response to queries from NHSGGC staff, as and when required.

Hand Hygiene is one of the most effective actions to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus. Conducting hand hygiene at the right time, using the right technique, with either Alcohol-Based Hand Rub (ABHR) or soap, water and disposable towels is critical.

All healthcare staff should follow the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual to prevent spreading infection to those in the healthcare setting.

Members of the public can help prevent infections when visiting healthcare settings by following the advice in our Healthcare Associated Infection: Information for the public leaflet.

Further information about the global campaign led by the World health Organisation can be found on the WHO website.

Useful Resources

Contact Information

Contact Name: Stefan Morton, LHBC, Infection Prevention and Control

Email: Stefan.morton@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

Our poster and video demonstrates the 5 moments of hand hygiene.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) staff collaborated to produce an informational video regarding 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene. This was developed to highlight the common failures that medical staff incur, as reported in audits of compliance. The video also highlights various anecdotal responses when challenged, given by existing medical staff members within NHSGGC. It features an introduction and closing statement by David Stewart, Lead Director for Acute Medical Services.

Staff involved in making this video were recruited from the North East IPC Team and Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI). Recording and post-production was carried out by GRI Medical Illustrations.

6 Steps for Hand Hygiene
Evidence Base, Medical Staff Information, Zero Tolerance and Frequently Asked Questions
Hand Hygiene Videos

Please click on the links below to view the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Hand Hygiene Videos. The videos are best viewed with sound on.

Top Tips for Preventing Infection, Useful Links and Hand Hygiene Education

Infection Control training modules, including those offered by NES, can be accessed via learnPro.