washing basins are available in all clinical areas. They are fitted with elbow operated taps. Hand hygiene training for all staff is incorporated in the annual infection control update module. • Wash hands before and after episode of patient contact • Wash between different clinical activity for the same patient • Wash hands before putting gloves on and after taking them off • Wash hands when hands are visually dirty • Wash hands when have been in touch with a contaminated object Table 1: Hand washing agents Hand washing technique An appropriate technique for hand washing will ensure that hands are cleaned effectively. What follows is a good, basic technique that should be followed every time hands are washed in the clinical environment. • Get water to correct temperature, not too hot or too cold. • Wet your hands before putting liquid soap on. • One squirt of liquid soap. • Perform six-stage hand washing technique for 10-20 seconds of rubbing. Remember to include the wrists. • hands thoroughly – remove all traces of soap. • Dry hands with paper towels – especially between fingers. • Dispose of paper towels into foot-operated domestic waste bin. • Turn taps off – with elbows if elbow operated taps or with a clean, dry paper towel. SIx Stage Hand Washing Technique: 1. Palm to palm. 2. Palm to dorsum, fingers interfaced – both sides. 3. Palm to palm, fingers interlaced. 4. Clasping of fingers. 5. Rotational rubbing of thumbs.
SRCL disposal contractor has been appointed in accordance with the duty of care and is a registered carrier of waste. Clinical waste is stored in the yellow clinical waste bins and is collected every two weeks by SRCL. Note: • Black waste collection containers are for domestic waste – for landfill only. • Yellow waste collection containers are for clinical waste – for treatment / sterilisation before landfill – which is contracted to SRCL. • Sharps bins (with yellow lids) should not be included in the yellow collection container because it is for incineration. They should be collected from the practice staff. Cleaning of Medical Equipment & Environment Cleaning of Medical Equipment: • Medical equipment will be cleaned as per manufacturers’ instructions between patients and at the end of clinic by the user. • Single-use items must be disposed of after each use. General Environmental Cleaning • All rooms and corridors will be cleaned or vacuumed regularly with a cleaning detergent. • Toilets will be cleaned at least daily with a specific toilet cleaning product with a chlorine base solution. • Work tops should be clean before commencing work. • Flooring and walls should be free from holes/cracks and body fluids stains. • The horizontal surfaces of all clinical rooms must be wiped down each day. • High & low dusting should be carried out regularly by the cleaners. • Records of cleaning specifications will be maintained by the Practice Manager. • A checklist is to be completed by the cleaner and record kept for inspection in the cleaning cupboard. Cleaning and disinfectant policy Treatment Room/Minor Surgery (injections only)
• and stool contamination should be treated as an infectious clean, unless they are blood stained. How to deal with it: i. If the spillage is about an incontinence pad size – Spread the NaDCC granules generously over the spillage, leave it for 3-minutes (this allows the granules to kill the bloodborne viruses). Move the yellow clinical bin close to the spillage. Three minutes later, remove the spillage using the kit supplied with apron & gloves and dispose of it directly into the clinical bin. (NaDCC brand products are: Haztab, Chlor Clean and Actichlor Plus). Then wipe the area over with 10,000 parts of chlorine base solution provided in the spillage kit(make sure that the windows and doors are open when using chlorine base solution). ii. If the spillage is more than an incontinence pad size – Put on apron & gloves and soak up the blood & body fluids with absorbent pads; place them directly into a close-by yellow clinical bin. Then wipe the area over with 10,000 parts of chlorine base solution (make sure that the windows and doors are open when using chlorine base solution). Aseptic Technique Aseptic technique is the term used to describe the methods used to prevent contamination of wounds and other susceptible sites by organisms that could cause infection (Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures) The aims of aseptic technique are: • To prevent the introduction of pathogens to the site. • To prevent the transfer of pathogens from the patient to staff or other patients.