Breaking the Chain of Infection

Stopping the spread of infections isn’t about luck; it’s about understanding the ‘Chain of Infection’. 

In healthcare settings, you can face a wide range of infections caused by pathogens. Each pathogen behaves and spreads differently and requires a different approach to control. When we say “pathogens,” we are talking about a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. 

This is why a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for effective infection prevention and control.

Effective infection prevention is about understanding the specific threat and matching it with the right response. The more we understand the differences, the better we can protect patients, residents, staff and visitors.

From the source to the next vulnerable patient, every link in the “Chain of Infection” is an opportunity to stop the infection from spreading, whether that means washing your hands, disinfecting surfaces, isolation or other robust protocols.

The chain of infection consists of six crucial links. To protect your patients and staff, you need to be the barrier at every stage:

In the fight against HCAIs, your sluice room is the frontline. Human waste is a primary “Portal of Exit” and “Mode of Transmission” for many dangerous pathogens. The right knowledge, combined with reliable sluice room equipment, is the ultimate barrier against infections. For example, a bedpan washer disinfector enables you to dispose of waste and disinfect reusable items, killing all bacteria, reducing cross-contamination from splashback that can occur during handwashing. 

If you would like to speak to our experts about infection prevention and control in your sluice room, contact us on 01689 806 500.

You can download our Breaking the Chain of Infection resource here.