Infection prevention and control in care homes 

This information is written to provide a guide for residents, carers and their families about infection prevention and control in care homes. It has also been written in response to questions we have been asked by some staff who work in care homes, including staff who are involved in giving personal care to residents with long-term conditions in their homes.

 

There are many types of residential care home, we mainly tend to think of care homes for older people, which are registered to provide personal care, some providing additional nursing care.  There are also care homes that provide support for younger adults and children and adolescents, all of which will be regulated by the Care Quality Commission and will need to meet their duty to provide an environment that provides clean, safe care.

 

Guidance has been developed to help providers meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Infections, which sets out how the Care Quality Commission will assess compliance with the requirements set out in the Regulations made under section 20(5) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and provides guidance on how providers can meet the registration requirements relating to healthcare associated infections.  Essential standards of quality and safety and guidance on compliance with Care Quality Commission requirements can be downloaded here

 

The Department of Health Guidance for Infection Control in Care Homes was produced in 2006 and is available here.

 

We have summarised practical guidance produced by the Health Protection Agency on the management and control of healthcare associated infections in care homes below:

Practical guidance for the control of Clostridium difficile in care homes

 

Care Homes Policy (PDF, 619 KB)

Infection control policy for those in residential care

 

Norovirus toolkit for care homes (PDF, 1.7 MB)

A set of resources for staff in care homes.

 

Introduction to infection control in care homes

This is a series of seven short films. These are designed to provide staff with an introduction to infection control.  The web page also contains links to other resources and useful websites.

 

Blood Borne Viruses and sharps injuries: in care homes (PowerPoint Presentation, 1.3 MB)

 

Guidelines for managing outbreaks of respiratory illness in care homes (PDF, 65 KB)

 

Reference: Health Protection Agency

OTHER RESOURCES AND GOOD PRACTICE
GOLD CARE HOMES
The two top-scoring residential homes in Wolverhampton in a brand new audit on infection control standards are run separately by a mother and her daughter.

Margaret Simms, who runs Oaks Court at Chapel Ash and her daughter Helen Simms, who runs Bethrey House, Goldthorn Park, were among 32 care homes assessed by Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust's infection prevention team - and both scored at least 95 per cent and gold status.

The PCT is among the first in the UK to introduce an annual audit of infection prevention standards in local care homes and to develop a scheme to encourage continual improvement.

A total of 25 care homes - including nursing, residential, learning disability and resource centres - achieved over 80 per cent compliance with key infection prevention standards in the first audit and have been awarded a gold, silver or bronze certificate depending on their score. Each has also signed up to the PCTs Infection Prevention Charter to continually improve standards.

Jeanette Wilding, the PCT's director of healthcare governance and infection prevention and control, said: "We didn't realise the two managers were related until the award ceremony. There respective nursing homes both did fantastically well in the audit and are our first two gold status recipients.

"The aim of the programme is to improve hygiene standards year-on-year and to formally acknowledge care home staff's commitment and hard work in this area. The main reason Wolverhampton has been so successful in reducing healthcare-acquired infections is that we work together as a health economy across hospitals, health centres and other community settings such as nursing and residential care homes."

The audit gives care homes scores for their compliance in key categories such as hand hygiene, waste management, environment and equipment for infection prevention. These standards are in addition to and beyond any other hygiene requirements care homes have to comply with. Visit Wolverhampton Health NHS Trust's website for more information.

If you or someone you care about has been affected by a healthcare infection and you wish to discuss this with us, please contact us at info@mrsaactionuk.net


 (c) MRSA Action UK 2011