Top Tips for Infection Control
Any healthcare environment carries a pathological risk for patients and clinicians. Unless proper precautions are taken, cross-contamination and infection can occur easily.
The source of infection can be anything from an unclean surface to disposable gloves used to treat multiple patients. It’s important for all individuals — clinicians, healthcare managers, patients, and visitors — to take seriously their responsibilities in reducing the risk of infection.
Fortunately, there are medical surgical supplies and simple strategies that can help achieve this goal. Paragon Care understands how critical infection control is in any and all healthcare settings and can provide our clients with a range of products and devices to prevent infection and cross-contamination.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a bit of a buzzword over the last few years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve all been playing our part by wearing masks but healthcare professionals must take this a step further.
On top of surgical masks, doctors, nurses, and anyone working closely with patients may be required to don gloves, goggles, glasses, face shields, gowns, and aprons. While this outfit has become a common sight over the past twenty-four months, it was already expected for those treating patients in a surgical setting, where the risk of infection is far higher.
Personal protective equipment is a consumable product that should be disposed of after use.
Understand infection control requirements for capital and consumable products
Different types of medical surgical supplies and equipment will have different requirements when it comes to infection control.
Capital equipment has several defining factors. It tends to be more expensive than consumable products and is durable in nature — you can expect a capital device to last for several years (providing it is appropriately maintained). With regards to infection control, capital equipment will often require the use of accessories that will need to be replaced on a regular basis. An ultrasound machine, for example, would be considered a capital device but a clinician will also require probe covers and needle guides to use it. These products prevent cross-contamination between patients and are consumable in nature. In addition, an ultrasound machine will likely have cleaning protocols that must be followed.
Consumable items are usually one-time use products that must be disposed of for infection control purposes. In addition to probe covers and needle guides, surgical gloves are a great example of a consumable product. Using these items to treat multiple patients is extremely dangerous from an infection control perspective.
Understanding the difference between capital and consumable products and how to treat these respectively will reduce the risk of infection between patients (and clinicians) occurring.
Invest in infection control devices
In addition to accessories and consumable products, many healthcare equipment providers offer devices that can help keep a healthcare environment safe and clean.
Amongst Paragon Care’s comprehensive product portfolio are a number of disinfection systems that can help lower pathogen bioburden levels and prevent healthcare infection. These systems include UVC disinfection robots, which utilise room mapping technology to deliver a continuous wave of UVC energy, destroying pathogens and germs.
For more information on Paragon Care’s product portfolio, submit a Product Information Request today.
Train employees appropriately
It may seem simple but one of the best ways to reduce the risk of infection is ensuring that employees are appropriately trained on healthcare protocols. While you can assume that doctors, nurses, and related specialists have completed the required training, administration workers, cleaners, technicians, and anyone else who works with and around patients should understand their responsibilities relating to infection control.
The 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene, for example, can significantly reduce the risk of infection transmission between patients, employees, and visitors. Keep signs handy to remind everyone how they can protect those around them.
Stay up-to-date with latest findings and research
Finally, stay up-to-date with the latest research in the infection control sector. As a healthcare manager, this is one of the best things you can do on behalf of both clinicians and patients. Understand what emerging risks are and work closely with your medical equipment supplier to invest in products that will best protect those who are at risk of contracting an infection.
As a leading provider of medical surgical supplies, Paragon Care is at the forefront of infection control. Our friendly and trained team are available to answer any questions you might have about our products and medical equipment services. Contact us today to find out more.