COVID-19 outbreak management in a mental healthcare setting.

Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), inadvertent exposure of hospitalised patients and healthcare workers has been a major concern. Patients in inpatient settings with mental illnesses have also been impacted by the restrictions the pandemic has caused, with many having experienced the confines and loss of liberties that COVID-19 has brought. This article identifies the infection prevention and control measures required in a mental health setting during an outbreak of COVID-19.

Strategies to reduce Gram-negative infections: a community perspective.

Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria continue to be on the rise, despite efforts by the Government and health service to curb their numbers. Most of these infections arise in the community. The case for targeting community-onset healthcare-associated infections is stark and requires a shift in focus from traditionally providing increased efforts in the hospital setting to a diversion of attention to the community.

Tunable Nanoscale Cages from Self-Assembling DNA and Protein Building Blocks.

Three-dimensional (3D) cages are one of the most important targets for nanotechnology. Both proteins and DNA have been used as building blocks to create tunable nanoscale cages for a wide range of applications, but each molecular type has its own limitations. Here, we report a cage constructed from both protein and DNA building blocks through the use of covalent protein-DNA conjugates.

Do training and needle-safety devices prevent needlestick injuries? A systematised review of the literature.

This systematised review was undertaken to appraise research on the effects of training and the use of needle-safety devices (NSDs) on the prevention of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among health workers, focusing on a European perspective. A literature search from 2007 to 2017 was performed, which identified six studies that investigated the introduction of training and NSDs and their affect on NSIs. The six chosen studies identified that training, as well as the adoption of NSDs, has an impact on preventing NSIs.

A change management approach to improving safety and preventing needle stick injuries.

Key drivers for preventing healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) include evidence-based practices and procedures that prevent infection. Among the current guidance for preventing HCAIs is evidence and mandatory requirements for reducing needle stick injuries (NSIs). This article highlights how John Kotter's model for change could help healthcare workers plan for successful and sustained deployment of needle safety devices (NSDs) and ultimately reduce the risk of a NSI.

Infection prevention and control practitioners: improving engagement.

Every healthcare worker plays a vital part in minimising the risk of cross infection. Infection prevention and control (IPC) practitioners have the skills and competencies to assist organisations in improving engagement among staff and play a vital part in achieving this. IPC practitioners have skills in clinical practice, education, research and leadership, and these skills ensure high-quality care for patients and support strategies for engaging staff.

Improving influenza vaccine uptake in frontline staff.

Influenza is a highly contagious upper respiratory tract disease causing significant morbidity and mortality among high-risk groups. Immunization of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in the NHS is thought to be beneficial in reducing subclinical infection, staff sickness absences and protects patients. Each year Public Health England launches the Seasonal Flu Campaign to help reduce influenza transmission by reinforcing the message that it is vital that frontline HCWs get vaccinated.

The role of healthcare strategies in controlling antibiotic resistance.

In an interview in March 2013, the Chief Medical Officer described antibiotic resistance as a 'ticking time bomb' and ranked it along with terrorism on a list of threats to the nation. Her report Infections and the Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance (Department of Health, 2011) highlighted that, while a new infectious disease has been discovered nearly every year over the past three decades, there have been very few new antibiotics developed, leaving our armoury nearly empty. Antibiotic resistance is a universal problem that needs to be tackled by a wide variety of strategies and players.

Subcutaneous injections: preventing needlestick injuries in the community.

Community nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings, for example health centres, community hospitals, patients' homes, residential and nursing homes. Administering subcutaneous injections to patients in the community is an everyday activity for many nurses in clinical practice. Many problems related to being 'sharps safe' are common to both community nurses and hospital staff.

Reducing needlestick injuries: a review of a community service.

Community nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings; for example, health centres, community hospitals, patients' homes, and residential and nursing homes. Administering intramuscular (IM)injections to patients in the community is an everyday activity for many nurses in clinical practice. A great deal of problems related to being 'sharps safe' are common to both community nurses and hospital staff.

Mattress cleanliness: the role of monitoring and maintenance.

A clean and tidy environment provides the right setting for good patient care. It is fundamental in preventing and/or controlling the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI). Cleanliness is an essential component for the comfort and dignity of patients, particularly those for whom a hospital is home for any length of time.

Sternal wound infections: improvements made to reduce rates.

Wound infections from surgical sites account for 15% of all healthcare-associated infections (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2008). There is evidence that the care provided before and after the operation is paramount to minimize the risk of surgical site infection. Sternal wound infections lengthen hospital stays (or prompt readmission) and carry a high mortality rate.

Cannulae and infection control in theatre.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are those that are not present or incubating when an individual enters hospital, but are acquired while in hospital. At any one time, 8% of patients have an infection acquired in hospital (Department of Health (DH), 2008). On average, an infection adds 3-10 days to the length of a patient's stay in hospital.

Managing outbreaks of norovirus in an NHS hospital.

Noroviruses are highly infectious and easily transmitted by contact with contaminated surfaces and objects, as airborne particles and by contact between individuals. While illness caused by norovirus is usually self-limiting, it can be serious in very young and elderly people, or in those who are debilitated or have a serious illness; they may require hospital treatment. Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals create significant disruption to patient care.

Clostridium difficile infection: A critical analysis of the guidance.

A recent report by the Department of Health, Clostridium Difficile Infection: How to deal with the problem - a board to ward approach, is a revised set of guidelines based on best practice and key recommendations for the NHS to ensure the control of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). It takes into account a national framework for clinical governance which did not previously exist, a framework that gives significant weight to infection control as a matter of patient safety, and highlights that all clinicians have a personal responsibility for infection prevention and control. It puts the onus on Trust management and PCTs to ensure that measures are in place to prevent and manage CDI according to best evidence.

Improving peripheral IV cannula care: implementing high-impact interventions.

Infection prevention and control measures have been recognized as effective in minimizing the risk of infection from peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulas. However, this relies on health professionals' compliance with guidelines for the care of patients with IV catheters and at times it may be that practice is inconsistent with guidelines. This article discusses the care required for peripheral cannulas and shows how implementing the high-impact interventions can improve peripheral IV catheter care on insertion and its management afterwards.

C. difficile infection - a tool for improving practice and reducing rates.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a recognized health-care-acquired infection (HAI) and as such it is vital that hospitals do more to reduce the rates of infection. Patients, especially older people, become particularly susceptible to CDI after treatment with antibiotics. Mention of CDI on death certificates is increasing and surveillance, especially when accompanied by feedback to clinicians, has long been established as an effective tool to lower HAIs.

Sharps management in hospital: an audit of equipment, practice and awareness.

The safe handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments forms part of an overall strategy to protect staff, patients and visitors from exposure to blood-borne pathogens. As with many infection prevention and control policies, the assessment and management of the risks associated with the use of sharps is paramount, and safe systems of work and engineering controls must be in place to minimize any identified risks. The use of sharps in hospitals should be avoided where possible; when their use is essential, particular care is required in handling and disposal - if possible, use safer sharps devices.

Pandemic influenza: implications for infection control in hospital.

The World Health Organization states that immediate action is needed to prevent a repeat of the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 40 million people globally. The infection control team in hospitals are given responsibilities to implement plans to deal with an event if one should occur. Many healthcare facilities belonging to primary care Trusts and particularly hospitals have been ordered to release a pandemic influenza policy.

Tuberculosis and the implications for healthcare workers in hospitals.

In response to concerns about the rising incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued fresh guidance on TB and its management for prevention and control. Inadequate infection control procedures have been cited as the main contributing factors to institutional outbreaks of the disease. The control and prevention ofTB in hospitals is best achieved by three approaches: early diagnosis, good isolation management and adoption of personal protective equipment.