FACI LIT I E S MANAGEMENT
A ‘whole hospital approach’ to IP&C
Yvonne Spencer describes how a ‘whole hospital approach’ is the cornerstone to infection prevention – involving collaboration between hard and soft facilities management, infection prevention and control (IP&C) teams, service users, clinicians and other key stakeholders.
The success of IP&C is dependent upon a wide range of stakeholders with varying skill sets, all working in harmony to achieve a common goal: the reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Prioritising stakeholder engagement within an improvement project ensures everyone is aligned to a consistent framework that enables collaborative, connected working. Adopting a holistic, ‘whole healthcare’ facility approach to infection prevention, across all disciplines, with a shared common goal of reducing HCAIs, means that routes of transmission – such as water, air, surfaces and hand hygiene – should be considered in combination rather than in isolation. In particular, when designing any new facility or rejuvenating an old one, the potential
risks from the built environment must be considered. Consideration of the impact that contaminated surfaces or water and poorly ventilated areas can have on transmission rates of HCAIs should be approached with participation from all stakeholders. For example, hard facilities management (FM) may have the responsibility for the water quality within a hospital; however, the cleaning team (soft FM) plays a large role in the daily management of the outlets associated with that water supply and both disciplines should be involved in any co-design of changes to a process in order to ensure the maximum impact.
As part of a collaborative approach, engaging the facilities management provider can bring significant benefits – leveraging
their expertise in both soft and hard FM and their existing external supplier relationships, as well as offering access to additional resources for training for hospital staff.
Evidence-based approach With the aim of driving improvement, an evidence-based infection prevention approach has been launched which goes beyond simply ensuring that surfaces are visibly clean – by implementing new training programmes, practices, specialists and technologies to help safeguard both patients and staff. The ‘Protecta’ approach promotes and
supports the adoption of best practices in cleaning and decontamination, helping to hospitals fight against HCAIs and meet national standards of healthcare and cleanliness. The programme has already been deployed in the US and has been proven to reduce Clostridium difficile (C.diff) by 53%, MRSA by 70% and completely eliminate COVID-19 from surfaces. The strategy reinforces strict procedures for equipment cleaning – ensuring specialist disinfection is performed with the right chemicals and deploying technology in the right places. A range of technology solutions are implemented, including audit management software, hygienic and safe module trolley systems, single-use microfibre mops for high-risk areas, a range of specialist chemicals, and new and powerful electrical cleaning equipment – including HPV and UVC decontamination systems.
Training Training is also vital to drive improvement efforts in IP&C and Sodexo recently partnered with the Infection Prevention Society to launch an Environment, Cleaning and Decontamination (ECD) programme which will support infection prevention practitioners to tackle infections in healthcare settings by helping to improve best practices and
DECEMBER 2021
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