HIQA’s 12-month plan for infection control

New guidance from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has been published, which identifies 12 key measures to help reduce the spread of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).

The National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection states that the 12 minimum standards must be implemented across Ireland within the next year.

The guidance has been introduced specifically to reduce the spread of MRSA and C.difficile in hospitals. It means that many hospitals will need to overhaul their care systems in order to meet the national standards.

The guidance states that hospitals must:

• supply a sufficient amount of en suite single rooms 
• make pressurised isolation rooms with dedicated access lobbies available
• improve hand hygiene facilities
• improve measures for antibiotic resistance
• ensure staffing levels are sufficient.

The only measure that does not need to be implemented within a year is the standard requiring for better systems for environment and facilities management to be implemented. HIQA says this measure must be in place within three years.

The new guidance will apply to all public and private health and social care services, including hospitals, community care services, GP and dental surgeries and primary care services.