Hand Hygiene
The best way to prevent infection from spreading is good hand hygiene.
At Sidra Medicine, there are hand-washing sinks and alcohol-based hand
rub in each patient’s room. Patients and visitors should use these
facilities to clean their hands. If you find a soap or alcohol-based hand
rub dispenser empty, please tell a member of staff.
- Staff members are asked to clean their hands with liquid soap and water
or alcohol gel before and after they come into contact with patients and
their environment, regardless of whether or not the patients have infections.
- There are posters around the hospital to remind staff, patients and visitors
how to clean their hands properly.
- If you are worried about staff members forgetting to wash their hands,
please do remind them to do so.
Screening for Multidrug Resistant Organisms
We risk assess patients who might be carrying Multidrug Resistant Organisms
(MDRO) on their admission to hospital. Those identified as high risk will
have swabs taken. Those who are found to carry these organisms are cared
for under infection control precautions in order to prevent transmission
to other patients and to protect them from developing infection.
Environmental Cleaning
- Keeping the environment clean is very important for patient safety.
- Housekeeping staff members receive training in infection prevention and control.
- Senior nurses, cleaning contractors, Infection Prevention and Control team
and others regularly check that hospital equipment and the environment
are clean.
- The latest technology in room decontamination (i.e. Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide
Vapour system) will be used to clean rooms occupied by patients with certain
infections when they are discharged.
- Patients and visitors can help maintain a clean environment by limiting
personal items they bring to the hospital. Patient rooms should also remain
clutter free at all times to allow housekeeping staff easy access to surfaces
so they can adequately clean.
Prudent Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics are drugs that kill the bacteria that cause infections and
save many patients lives as a result. But germs, such as MRSA, have become
resistant to antibiotics and the chance of resistance is greater when
more antibiotics are used. Inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to
the worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance. We have an antimicrobial
stewardship program in place. The Medical Director - Antimicrobial Stewardship
works closely with physicians and antimicrobial pharmacist(s) to develop
antibiotic guidelines and monitor the use of antibiotics.
Intravenous Line Care
Some patients may have intravenous lines inserted to get fluids or medications
into their systems. These lines may allow bacteria to enter their body.
Clinical staff receive training on how to care for these devices.
Patient & Visitors
Infections can be introduced and spread by patients and visitors in the
hospital. The following steps are key:
- Patients and visitors must not bring pets into the hospital.
- Any patients and visitors with symptoms of infection such as new rash,
cough, fever and diarrhea and/ or vomiting should not visit the hospital.
Visitors are requested to contact the unit before they visit if they have
any symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone with an infectious
condition such as chickenpox or measles so that they may be given advice
about visiting.
- No flowers are allowed in any critical care areas.
- No flowers or accessories must be left in corridors on the units. Any flowers
brought in for the patient must all be kept in their room. We strongly
recommend that a flower oasis is used instead of open vases. In the event
that an open vase is brought in, the water must be changed regularly and
the vases kept clean.
- Where patients and their escorts choose to use their own bed linen, these
items must be changed daily and sent home for laundry. Clean linen must
be used every day.
- No furniture is allowed to be brought into the patient’s room from
home. Any furniture used in the patient’s room needs to be decontaminated
using cleaning and disinfection products recommended by the Infection
Prevention and Control team.
- Patients and visitors must ensure that any personal items brought into
hospital are taken home on discharge. During a patient’s stay, their
relatives will be asked to take some personal belongings home to ensure
the patient’s room remains clutter free.
