How to maximise infection control in your care home

Infection control plays a vital role in delivering safe and high-quality care to vulnerable residents in care homes. Having a strong infection prevention strategy in place is paramount for a healthier and safer environment for everyone. Below, we have listed a few things you can do to enhance infection control in your care home.

Continue educating your team

A highly knowledgeable team is your first line of defence. Ongoing training is crucial in ensuring that staff understand and adhere to best practices. This includes knowing how to use equipment critical to infection control, i.e bedpan washer disinfectors. 

Use PPE correctly 

PPE is a vital barrier against the transmission of infections if used correctly. 

It’s important that PPE is put on (donning) and taken off (doffing) correctly to stop the person removing the PPE from contaminating themselves. It is also important for staff to dispose of the used PPE in the relevant bins provided and to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards.

Hand washing

Hand washing remains the most significant way to control the spread of infection.

It’s important to note that alcohol rub & gloves are not a substitute for proper handwashing with soap and water. Staff should also be aware of the ‘bare below elbow’ policy for effective hand hygiene. 

This requires staff to have bare forearms, with no jewellery other than a single plain wedding band. This ensures that hands and wrists can be thoroughly cleaned and dried.

Hand Washing Resource

Compliant human waste disposal

The correct disposal of human waste in healthcare settings is crucial in preventing the spread of infection. 

One of the safest methods is via a sluice room with a bedpan washer disinfector. This allows staff to dispose of patients’ bodily fluids in a dedicated room with equipment that can wash and disinfect utensils, effectively killing all microorganisms and bacteria.

Service and auditing

Regular servicing of infection control equipment ensures it is working efficiently and reliably, i.e. ensuring your bedpan washer is heating to the right temperature to kill microorganisms and bacteria. We’re here to help ensure your equipment meets the highest standards, helping to control infections, reduce costs from preventable breakdowns and extend the life of your equipment.

Here at Stanbridge, we have almost 70 years of experience in infection prevention and control.

We understand the importance of keeping residents, staff and visitors safe. If you need help and advice, contact us today.