Our Services: Infection Control

Infection Control

Attadale Private Hospital has in place an effective Infection Control Program which is developed in line with current evidence based best practice, legislation, ANZ standards and Department of Health Guidelines. Through the implementation of these policies and procedures and evidence based best practice Attadale Hospital aims to ensure the protection of both patients and staff from acquisition of infections. These policies and procedures are supported by qualified Infection Control staff and an Infection Control Policy and Procedure manual.

The hospital is constantly evaluated through the use of risk assessment tools that ensure and maintain compliance with current legislation, Department of Health Guidelines, ANZ standards and best practice within each hospital department.

The single most effective means of reducing the risk of transmission of micro-organisms from one person to another is through good and appropriate hand hygiene practices. Most infections are spread through either direct contact or via indirect contact from inanimate objects such as equipment that we have touched with our hands. The importance of good and appropriate hand hygiene is reinforced to staff through on-going education programs and is facilitated through the provision of alcohol hand gels and hand washing facilities. Alcoholic hand gels/rubs are only effective if hands are not visibly contaminated prior to application. It is the responsibility of all staff and visitors to the hospital to ensure good hand hygiene practices.

Whilst caring for patients it may be necessary for staff to wear gowns, gloves, masks and/or eye protection as part of standard precautions in order to minimise the risk of cross infection and protect the well-being of patients, visitors and healthcare workers. On occasionally, it may be necessary to implement additional precautions and for patients to be isolated to protect the patient, other patients or staff from infection.

Even though every measure is taken to prevent patient acquisition of infection, it would assist us if you could be mindful and apply the following precautions during your stay:

• Staff, patients, visitors to use the alcohol hand gel or wash their hands on leaving a patient room.

• Staff, patients, visitors to use the alcohol hand gel or wash their hands prior to contact with patients or babies.

• Please feel free to remind your caregivers on the importance of hand hygiene

• Personal hygiene is very important. Please clean your hands after the toilet and prior to eating

• Toiletries are available if you don’t have any of your own. Simply request these from your caregivers. Always keep these for your own use and do not share with others.

• Please feel free to tell your caregivers if you have any concerns regarding the hygiene of your room and/or bathroom.

• Always wear footwear when walking around the hospital.

• Encourage relatives and visitors to respect these precautions also.

• Please if you have used the baby bath in the nursery wipe round before and after use with environmental cleaner provided.

It is important to note that despite the implementation of an excellent Infection Control program with every precautionary measure taken, the risk of developing an infection related to a surgical procedure or your hospital stay in any healthcare facility cannot be completely removed, because the bodies’ natural defenses have been interrupted the risk of infection can only be minimised as much as possible.

However, the following precautions are taken to minimize the risk of infection related to a surgical procedure:

• Admission to hospital is reduced to the shortest possible time prior to surgical procedure.

• Screening questions related to MRSA, CJD, SARS are asked prior to or on admission.

• Patient showers with anti-microbial skin solution prior to specific surgical procedures.

• Hair removal from specific operative sites is undertaken using clippers or depilatory cream.

• By ensuring skin is intact at or adjacent to operative site.

• By minimizing risk of local or systematic infection in any site of the patient.

If you have any queries relating to Infection Control, the Infection Control Coordinator is available to answer these and can be contacted through your caregivers.

Your cooperation in helping us to maintain a high standard of infection control is appreciated.