Infection Prevention and Control
What is infection prevention and control and why is it important?
Infection prevention and control facilitates an environment that endeavours to prevent the transmission of disease to protect the health and safety of each resident, family, visitor and staff member.
Infection prevention and control is integral to safe nursing practice. Residents of long-term care facilities are at increased risk for developing infections due to immune and other body systems related to the aging process.
One key message is that the # 1 way to prevent the spread of infection is with proper hand hygiene. There are alcohol based hand rub dispensers throughout the home provided to encourage hand hygiene
Purpose of infection prevention and control:
The immunization program for residents of Copper Terrace includes:
Hand washing is the cornerstone of infection control. Hand washing is the most effective method of prevention infections and the spread of diseases. All departments within the home are supportive of and play an important role in the infection prevention and control program.
Copper Terrace has an Outbreak Management Team which oversees the care of our residents during a respiratory or enteric outbreak. They liaise with the Chatham-Kent Health Unit and the Ministry of Long Term Care during any outbreak.
Visitor Restrictions
To protect our residents and staff from contracting potentially contagious illnesses such as colds or gastro-type illnesses, we suggest visitors refrain from visiting if feeling unwell. If they are suffering from cold-like symptoms, they should wait 3-5 days before visiting. If they have a gastrointestinal illness, they should wait at least 48 hours from the onset of their symptoms before visiting.
Pandemic Planning
Copper Terrace continues to work on their pandemic planning in conjunction with the Ministry of Long Term Care guidelines.
Education
An important component of the Infection Prevention and Control Program is the ongoing education of residents, volunteers and staff. Awareness of the mode of infection transmission is paramount to the prevention and control of such conditions. Copper Terrace offers scheduled and impromptu educational opportunities for staff and volunteers.
Other Programs
The home’s Infection Prevention and Control Committee meets quarterly to review infection statistics, review and revise policy procedure and make recommendations related to infection control.
External Liaisons
Infection prevention and control facilitates an environment that endeavours to prevent the transmission of disease to protect the health and safety of each resident, family, visitor and staff member.
Infection prevention and control is integral to safe nursing practice. Residents of long-term care facilities are at increased risk for developing infections due to immune and other body systems related to the aging process.
One key message is that the # 1 way to prevent the spread of infection is with proper hand hygiene. There are alcohol based hand rub dispensers throughout the home provided to encourage hand hygiene
Purpose of infection prevention and control:
- To promote wellness through education and immunization
- To prevent infections and the spread of communicable conditions to each resident, family member and volunteer
- To manage infections and disease through daily surveillance of existing conditions
- To enhance the infection control program by ensuring access to new theories and practices
The immunization program for residents of Copper Terrace includes:
- Tuberculosis (Mantoux) screening within 14 days of admission
- Annual flu vaccine
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Tuberculosis (Mantoux) screening of volunteers and newly hired staff
- Annual flu vaccine
Hand washing is the cornerstone of infection control. Hand washing is the most effective method of prevention infections and the spread of diseases. All departments within the home are supportive of and play an important role in the infection prevention and control program.
Copper Terrace has an Outbreak Management Team which oversees the care of our residents during a respiratory or enteric outbreak. They liaise with the Chatham-Kent Health Unit and the Ministry of Long Term Care during any outbreak.
Visitor Restrictions
To protect our residents and staff from contracting potentially contagious illnesses such as colds or gastro-type illnesses, we suggest visitors refrain from visiting if feeling unwell. If they are suffering from cold-like symptoms, they should wait 3-5 days before visiting. If they have a gastrointestinal illness, they should wait at least 48 hours from the onset of their symptoms before visiting.
Pandemic Planning
Copper Terrace continues to work on their pandemic planning in conjunction with the Ministry of Long Term Care guidelines.
Education
An important component of the Infection Prevention and Control Program is the ongoing education of residents, volunteers and staff. Awareness of the mode of infection transmission is paramount to the prevention and control of such conditions. Copper Terrace offers scheduled and impromptu educational opportunities for staff and volunteers.
Other Programs
The home’s Infection Prevention and Control Committee meets quarterly to review infection statistics, review and revise policy procedure and make recommendations related to infection control.
External Liaisons
- Ministry of Long Term Care
- APANS Health Services
- Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit
- Community and Hospital Control Associations of Southwestern Ontario
- Chatham-Kent Infection Control Committee
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario)
- Emergency Management Branch (Ministry of Long Term Care)