Unit 1 introduces what Cleanliness Champions is giving insight into the programmes aims at protecting both patients and staff from Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI), HAI complicates recovery from illness and trauma, extends hospital stays, delays return to normal activity and increases stress on patients, families and carers (HAI Education 2010). As a cleanliness champion we are expected to contribute to the prevention of infections. Unit 2 introduces the Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICP’s).
It also explains The Chain of Infection which contains six links: * The Infection Agent * Reservoir * Portal of Entry * Mode of Transmission * Portal of Exit * Susceptible Host The Chain of Infection is crucial in order to prevent or break the chain of infection, by ensuring the Standard Infection Control Precautions are utilised fully within clinical areas, hand washing and wearing protective clothing equipment are also crucial in the prevention of infection.Every year at least 5,000 people die of infections which are caught in hospitals. (www. bbc.
co. uk) Unit 3 A introduces hand hygiene and how it’s vital in preventing infection. It illustrates the importance and procedures of hand hygiene and how they prevent infections from spreading to patients giving an understanding of how hands become contaminated and how easily these are passed on demonstrating that hand hygiene should be performed frequently and egularly.The five important hand hygiene moments are: * Entering patient zones to protect the patient from other micro-organisms * Entering sites with infectious risk * Entering sites with body fluid exposure risk * Leaving patient zones after touching a patient * After touching patient surroundings According to clinical skills for nursing (2008) hand hygiene is vitally important in infection control.
B introduces the methods and techniques involved in hand hygiene, there are three methods of hand hygiene that are defined by Health Prevention Scotland which are Social hand washing involves using soap and water removing transient micro-organisms, Hygienic hand washing involves antiseptic hand gel or dispenser soap which also removes transient micro-organisms and reduces resident micro-organisms, Surgical Scrub is a thorough hand wash using antiseptic hand cleanser this includes cleaning forearms removing as many resident micro-organisms as possible.It illustrated the stages of effective hand hygiene are preparation, procedure and drying while following the 7 stages of hand hygiene. 3 C explains the issues of non-compliance and the impact this has on the prevention of infection and how a cleanliness champion can use their role to influence others to comply. It also illustrates and focuses on why individuals may not comply with hand hygiene and gave an understanding of how best to address this. Unit 4 introduces Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which is essential when contributing towards the prevention of infection and how they reduce the transmission of infection to patients.
Research shows that personal protective equipment helps protect staff from infection spread. (Endacott et al, 2009). Demonstrating the importance of wearing gloves, gowns and masks by helping to break the chain of infection and how the selection of equipment is based on each individual assessment. Unit 5 explains the importance on the safe use and disposal of sharps.
Research shows that if any individual is harmed as a result of sharps not being disposed of appropriately a nurse could find themselves under disciplinary procedures.As a cleanliness champion it is our role to manage and dispose of sharp adhering to the policy of preventing infections helping to reduce any risks as sharps cause injury and blood-borne viruses. Injuries occur through poor practice such as re-sheathing needles. In conclusion the first five units of Cleanliness Champions demonstrate the importance of adhering to the prevention and control of infection by trying to break the Chain of Infection.Referenceshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/646369.stmhttp://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-theme-initiative/healthcare-associated-infections.aspxhttp://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn247.pdf
