Minimising the risk
As a health care provider you are responsible for minimising the
risk of cross infection. Every person must be considered a
potential source of infection and all practice members must be
educated on infection prevention and control guidelines to protect
themselves and others from becoming infected (see Improving your
practice below). Although staff members are responsible for their
own wellbeing, the practice should offer them immunisation (NHMRC
2012). A record of immunisation status should be maintained and
kept in staff files, and a staff member (usually the practice
manager) should take responsibility for monitoring vaccination
requirements and immunity and liaise with individual staff members
on this.
Improving your practice
For optimum infection prevention and control you must adhere to
the following precautions:
- Ensure hands are washed before and after any contact with
patients or contact with any body substances. Assume all blood and
body substances including saliva, urine, vomitus and wound drainage
etc. are potentially infectious.
- Take standard infection control precautions against inadvertent
contact with any body substance. This must include the use of
personal protective equipment - medical examination gloves, eye
protection, impervious aprons or gowns and appropriate face
masks.
- Prevent transfer of any body substance between patient and
patient, and practice member and patient.
- Provide a documented cleaning program for all areas of the
surgery. Clean all areas of the surgery on a routine basis. Ensure
equipment and surfaces are cleaned as soon as possible after use,
using appropriate chemicals in accordance with the requirements of
NHMRC (2012).
- Sterilise all instruments and equipment to be introduced
beneath skin or mucous membrane in accordance with current
Australian Standards for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising
reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment, and
maintenance of associated environments in health care facilities.
Ensure all equipment is cleaned thoroughly before being placed into
an autoclave or sterilising agent. Make sure you monitor the
autoclave to ensure its efficacy. This means using chemical,
biological or physical indicators and/or validation processes in
accordance with the requirements for current Australian Standards.
Your autoclave supplier or pathology companies will assist you with
this process.
- Clean, maintain and use equipment according to the
manufacturer's instruction (see Equipment).
- Dispose of waste in an appropriate manner that will not pose a
risk to others and in accordance with local regulations and
legislation.
- Offer immunisation to practice members and document the
same.
In addition, ensure the following are in place:
- Work Cover insurance
- Written procedures (see WHS Infection Control Policy template)
- Appropriate and regular training for all practice members. All
training should be documented
- Appropriate cleaning equipment
- Protective equipment
- Fire extinguishers and/or blankets
- Security alarms
- Ergonomically tested furniture
- Maintenance program for air-conditioner
- Maintenance program for fire extinguishers
- Signs displayed for sharps injuries (in all areas of
surgery)