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Infection Control
Click on any of the articles below for examples of improvements in infection control policy and practice. Please note that this may take you to the HSJ or Nursing Times websites and you may be required to register as a user or subscriber to gain access to full content.
Infection Supplement
| This HSJ supplement on 'Reducing Infection' outlines improvement activities around four themes proven to have a significant impact in HCAIs: practice; process; people; and performance. They set out what is needed at a trust to achieve sustainable reductions in all HCAIs. The articles go beyond the acute setting and articulate the role and contribution that can be made from other healthcare providers and commissioners. Click here to download full report. |  |
The inexorable rise in healthcare associated infections makes good infection control on its own a significant single contributor to patient safety. Huge government resources and attention are being pumped into improving hygiene in healthcare settings and to eliminating the spread of antibiotic resistant organisms.
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View all Infection Control articlesNurses must stay vigilant to MRSA risk during swine flu pandemic
RCN infection control advisor Rose Gallagher urged nurses to “keep their eye on the ball” and not become “complacent” about MRSA as the number of cases continues to increase.
C. Diff kills 90 patients
Around 90 people died from Clostridium Difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust between 2004 and 2006, the Healthcare Commission has estimated.
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Around 90 people died from Clostridium Difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust between 2004 and 2006, the Healthcare Commission has estimated.
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Healthcare Commission lists a catalogue of failings in handling of C difficile outbreaks
A Kent trust has been slated by the Healthcare Commission for failing to protect patients against infection.
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A Kent trust has been slated by the Healthcare Commission for failing to protect patients against infection.
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Safety first as government gets tough on causes of superbugs
Gordon Brown has put patient safety at the top of the government's priorities for the acute sector, promising stronger rules on hospital cleanliness.
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Gordon Brown has put patient safety at the top of the government's priorities for the acute sector, promising stronger rules on hospital cleanliness.
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Media Watch: for and against healthcare
Three-month battle to get health secretary Alan Johnson off the fence and spelling out his policy on the private sector.
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Three-month battle to get health secretary Alan Johnson off the fence and spelling out his policy on the private sector.
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Your Humble Servant: Grotty hands
The Department of Health's main drive is to get the nurses not to be so grotty, while on planet Monitor they are celebrating a multi-million-pound foundation trust surplus.
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The Department of Health's main drive is to get the nurses not to be so grotty, while on planet Monitor they are celebrating a multi-million-pound foundation trust surplus.
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Patient engagement: pull together for a patient-centred NHS
Sustaining the strides made in NHS patient engagement will rely on clinicians and managers embracing change, says Stephen Thornton
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Sustaining the strides made in NHS patient engagement will rely on clinicians and managers embracing change, says Stephen Thornton
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BMA dubious about screening every patient
The BMA has called for 'hard data' on the effectiveness of screening all hospital admissions for MRSA.
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The BMA has called for 'hard data' on the effectiveness of screening all hospital admissions for MRSA.
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Michael White on this year's Labour conference
Michael White gives his account on what Labour had to say in the conference
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Michael White gives his account on what Labour had to say in the conference
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Executives face fresh scrutiny on hospital infection outbreaks
Government wants a new power to place a legal requirement on NHS chief executives to report MRSA and C. difficile outbreaks.
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Government wants a new power to place a legal requirement on NHS chief executives to report MRSA and C. difficile outbreaks.
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Barometer: acute trusts september 2007
Confidence in the positive effect of choice continues its steady rise, according to the latest Barometer survey of acute trust chief executives.
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Confidence in the positive effect of choice continues its steady rise, according to the latest Barometer survey of acute trust chief executives.
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How knowledgeable are nurses about C. difficile?
Owing to an increase in incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile and associated diseases (CDAD) and as CDAD is becoming more difficult...
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Owing to an increase in incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile and associated diseases (CDAD) and as CDAD is becoming more difficult...
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Tories struggle to make their own room in the centre ground
This week in Blackpool the Conservative Party conference promised to scrap top-down targets - and end the postcode lottery.
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This week in Blackpool the Conservative Party conference promised to scrap top-down targets - and end the postcode lottery.
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Maintenance of peripheral intravenous catheters
Infection prevention and control measures rely on health professionals' compliance with guidelines for the care of patients with intravenous catheters. At times practice may be...
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Infection prevention and control measures rely on health professionals' compliance with guidelines for the care of patients with intravenous catheters. At times practice may be...
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Infection control: middle of a chain reaction
By making the most of partnership working, new technologies and ongoing vigilance, Plymouth Hospitals trust was able to make great strides in the fight against infection
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By making the most of partnership working, new technologies and ongoing vigilance, Plymouth Hospitals trust was able to make great strides in the fight against infection
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Healthcare Commission finds hygiene code is 'not hitting the headlines' in acute trusts
Acute trust boards are not taking enough responsibility for controlling infection in their hospitals.
Spot checks on 43 hospitals by the Healthcare Commission have revealed concerns that boards are not regularly discussing opportunities for improvement or ensuring infection control data is analysed effectively.
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Acute trust boards are not taking enough responsibility for controlling infection in their hospitals.
Spot checks on 43 hospitals by the Healthcare Commission have revealed concerns that boards are not regularly discussing opportunities for improvement or ensuring infection control data is analysed effectively.
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Darzi report stresses equality and access
Health secretary Alan Johnson says he is confident GPs can be persuaded to provide the additional services proposed in Lord Darzi's review of the NHS, published this morning. But he made clear that the private sector would also be a part of moves to set up 150 new walk-in centres and increase GP provision in the areas facing the greatest shortage of doctors.
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Health secretary Alan Johnson says he is confident GPs can be persuaded to provide the additional services proposed in Lord Darzi's review of the NHS, published this morning. But he made clear that the private sector would also be a part of moves to set up 150 new walk-in centres and increase GP provision in the areas facing the greatest shortage of doctors.
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Hygiene: staff won't follow where they are not led
After the years of media scrutiny, policy statements, regulations, inspections and public outcry - not to mention the avoidable deaths and illnesses - it is hard to see why many acute trust boards are failing to make hygiene standards a priority.
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After the years of media scrutiny, policy statements, regulations, inspections and public outcry - not to mention the avoidable deaths and illnesses - it is hard to see why many acute trust boards are failing to make hygiene standards a priority.
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Labour conference: localist messages do not cover a nasty whiff of central control
The speeches at Labour's annual conference mapping out the principles for Gordon Brown's stewardship of the NHS highlighted the tensions with which the new ministerial team is grappling.
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The speeches at Labour's annual conference mapping out the principles for Gordon Brown's stewardship of the NHS highlighted the tensions with which the new ministerial team is grappling.
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Infection control: we are here for the patients, not targets
The Healthcare Commission's damning investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust drives home the message on lack of engagement of some acute trust boards with what's happening on their wards.
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The Healthcare Commission's damning investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust drives home the message on lack of engagement of some acute trust boards with what's happening on their wards.
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Foundation trust Systems to safely manage surgical instruments
Many trusts “loan in” specialised surgical instruments on a short-term basis. While this helps overcome the costs of technological obsolescence it brings its own problems with it that can see treatment delayed or cancelled...
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Many trusts “loan in” specialised surgical instruments on a short-term basis. While this helps overcome the costs of technological obsolescence it brings its own problems with it that can see treatment delayed or cancelled...
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Developing ward accreditation to improve infection control practice
A ward accreditation audit scheme cut rates of healthcare associated infection and standardised infection control at a large acute trust. Read more...
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