Welcome Infection prevention & Control.

[Audio] Welcome everyone. Today we are going to discuss how to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and infections at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Specifically, we will discuss hand hygiene, cleaning and decontamination, waste disposal, sharps safety, personal protective equipment, blood and bodily fluid spillage safety, linen safety, and respiratory hygiene. We will also end the presentation with a quiz. So, let's get started..

[Audio] In Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, we understand the importance of first impressions, and this is why we expect all our staff to have a well-groomed, professional appearance. This presentation is designed to go through the key elements of our dress code and Infection Prevention and Control standards. Essential topics include hand hygiene, cleaning and decontamination of equipment, safe handling and disposal of waste, sharps safety, the use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves and face masks, safe handling of blood and bodily fluid spillages, the proper handling of used linen and the importance of respiratory hygiene. To conclude, we will have a quiz to test your knowledge. Let us begin..

[Audio] Infectious diseases remain a significant public health concern, with an estimated 300000 people in England alone affected and an annual cost to the NHS of over 1 billion. To mitigate the risk of infection, it is important that all personnel comprehend how germs are transmitted and do what they can to lessen the risk. We can all do our part to restrict the spread of infection: carrying out the guidelines suggested can help to keep us healthy and also reduce the chance of passing the infection on to other people. Don't forget to wash your hands often..

[Audio] Sandra is our Senior Clinical Support and is the Infection Prevention and Control Champion and Link Advisor for SDEC. She has provided a helpful quiz to review some of the important points from this presentation. There are 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene to remember and use in daily practice. These include reviewing the hand washing image, needle and vial, digital background, as well as key Moments to remember. Hand Hygiene must be done Before and After any direct patient contact, as well as Before and After any clean or aseptic procedures. In addition, Hand Hygiene is important Before administering IV Medications, After handling bodily fluids, and After touching the patient or their surroundings. Make sure to review these Moments and be ready for the quiz at the end of the presentation..

[Audio] Hand hygiene is an essential part of preventing the transmission of infection in health care facilities. The table here indicates Compliance in Ward JSDM – SDEC Medical Unit from May to October 2023 was mostly at 100%, aside from one month at 93.3%, which demonstrates that the protocols are effective. To emphasize this point, Sandra has prepared a quiz to conclude this presentation..

[Audio] Today I would like to talk to you about the importance of adhering to the dress code when working in a clinical area. As we know, many clinical procedures require direct contact with patients, which means professional etiquette and wearing the correct uniform is essential. All staff working within the trust are expected to present a smart and professional image. This includes wearing the correct approved uniform, being smartly dressed and appropriately covered, up to the elbows. Additionally, no jewellery or wristwatches should be worn below the elbow, with the exception of a single plain wedding band. Furthermore, NHS approved ID badges must be worn at all times. Finally, for staff who are not working in patient areas, lanyards with a safety breakaway clip must be used. Thank you..

[Audio] When working in the clinical environment, it is essential to maintain clean, neat and tidy hair that is tied back off the collar. Male staff must keep their facial hair well-maintained and in line with trust policies. Small, discreet studs are allowed for visible body piercing. Nails should be kept short, clean and neat with no nail varnish, false nails, extensions or nail jewellery allowed. Footwear must be plain, non-slip and wipeable, with open-backed shoes, Crocs and vented shoes not permitted..

[Audio] Smoking is a choice that no one should judge, but when it comes to work it can create a distraction and even an unsafe environment for our patients. That is why, when it comes to working at SDEC, we strictly enforce no smoking, e-cigarettes or vaping in uniform. If you need to smoke, you must change out of your uniform first. We take this policy very seriously and reports will be issued if it is not followed. Our number one priority is providing the best and safest environment for our patients..

[Audio] Today, I will discuss the importance of safely and effectively decontaminating reusable medical equipment between patients. Ensuring that all employees understand their role and responsibilities in relation to the decontamination of these items is paramount. It is everyone's responsibility to effectively decontaminate patient equipment before and after each use. Patient equipment serves as a reservoir for the transmission of infectious agents, so to prevent this from happening it is essential that the decontamination of patient equipment is done in accordance with The Health and Safety at Work Act. We have regular Cleaning Audits to ensure that we are meeting these high standards, and I encourage everyone to aim for a 100% compliance rate..

[Audio] Segregating and disposing waste correctly is essential for a safe and healthy workplace. Infectious waste containers are usually marked with a red sign and black text. It is important to know the difference between infected and non-infectious waste. Tiger stripe bags are used to store non-infectious items such as incontinence pads and nappies, while black bags are used to store infectious items like healthcare waste. Domestic waste such as paper towels, tissues and food waste use black bags too. Regulations on managing healthcare waste must be followed to ensure it does not harm anyone or the environment. Take the quiz at the end to test your knowledge on this subject..

[Audio] Sharps bins should be labeled with the date of assembly and never filled past the full line marked on the bin. Sharps should be passed directly from one person to another without handling more than necessary and should never be re-sheathed. In an event of an injury from a sharp object like a syringe, scalpel, or lancet, always remember to squeeze, wash, dry, and report to Occupational health as proper disposal of sharps is essential for maintaining safety in the workplace..

[Audio] Safety and hygiene are of primary importance in healthcare. To protect medical personnel, patients, and their surroundings, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, gowns, and goggles may be used. Handwashing should be done when wearing gloves, while masks help ward off particles that travel over longer distances. Goggles and other eye protection must be worn when splashing or spraying of bodily fluids is expected. Lastly, aprons serve to safeguard uniforms from contamination. PPE must be discarded after each patient contact. Let us take a moment to review these essential safety steps..

[Audio] Risks related to managing blood and bodily fluids must not be overlooked. It is essential that healthcare workers take appropriate precautions when dealing with spills, using the right products and safety measures such as PPE, disposing of contaminated materials, and disinfecting affected areas. Taking these steps can help guarantee safe and successful management of blood and bodily fluid spills..

[Audio] Linen is a major source of infection and can cause serious problems in healthcare settings if not handled, stored and managed correctly. To ensure safe handling of linen, infection prevention and control protocols must be followed. Linen should be kept separate from other items and water-soluble bags should be used whenever applicable. Additionally, handling of linen should be kept to a minimum and aprons and gloves should be worn when handling these items. Laundry should be managed promptly and linen bags should be stored and cleaned on a daily basis. Furthermore, clean linen needs to be kept above floor level in its own dedicated space to avoid cross contamination..

[Audio] It is essential to practice good hygiene in order to avoid spreading diseases and infections. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette are key for this purpose. When coughing or sneezing, one should always cover their mouth and nose with a tissue, and then discard the tissue into a waste bin immediately. Moreover, hand hygiene should also be regularly performed with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer..

[Audio] Advisors working in the area of linkages are critical in minimizing the transmission of infections and bettering patient safety. They lend reinforcement to other personnel in the healthcare system, ensuring that standards are kept and improved accordingly. They serve as a repository of information and counsel on measures to prevent and contain the spread of infection, while also encouraging a secure environment for care. Furthermore, they support the early identification of possible infection symptoms, and back up the execution of best practices in all their endeavors..

[Audio] For the final part of this presentation, Sandra has prepared a quiz to test your knowledge. Gloves and aprons should be worn when handling infected linen. Disinfecting equipment reduces the number of micro-organisms. Clinical waste should be placed in a red bag. Rings with plain bands and false nails should not be worn when providing patient care. Standard Infection Control Precautions do not include management of patients' personal hygiene; let's see how much you've learnt!.

[Audio] Without greetings and without beginning with Today: Thank you all for watching this presentation. We have come to the end of our presentation and I am sure you have learned a lot of important information. To test your knowledge on infection prevention and control, Sandra has prepared a quiz for you. The questions are as follows: Q1. C, Q2. C, Q3. A, Q4. B, Q5. C and Q6. The answer choices are: Hand Hygiene, Waste disposal, Linen/Laundry, Sharps disposal, PPE, Cleaning/decontamination, Blood & Bodily fluids and Respiratory Hygiene. I hope this quiz is helpful in giving you a better understanding of infections prevention and control. Again, thank you all for your time and attention..