CH22. Aseptic Techniques
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Aseptic Techniques Policy
{{org_field_name}} believes that infection control is a critical element in the running and management of any residential care facility. Serious infections can easily be spread if inadequate controls are in place.
The protection of people from such diseases is a key aim of {{org_field_name}}, which expects all its staff and volunteers to adhere strictly to a range of policies relating to the control of infection, including this one, which is designed to protect people who use services from the risks of infection introduced during clinical procedures.
Legal Considerations
This care service will adhere to all relevant legislation, including:
- the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974
- the Public Health Infectious Diseases Regulations 1988
- the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
Under the above legislation, and associated codes of practice, {{org_field_name}} understands its legal and moral duty to ensure the health and safety of both staff and people who use services and to protect them, wherever practicable, from dangerous substances in the workplace, including the risk of transmission of infections.
Guidance
{{org_field_name}} seeks at all times to comply with evidence-based best practice in infection control, particularly with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the Prevention and Control of Infection and Related Guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care (the Hygiene Code). The home understands that in England compliance with this guidance is an effective way to help it to meet its regulatory requirements with the Care Quality Commission under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
In addition, the home will comply with all other relevant best practice infection control guidance.
For instance, applicable guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes:
- CG139: Healthcare-associated Infections: Prevention and Control in Primary and Community Care (updated February 2017)
- PH36: Healthcare-associated Infections: Prevention and Control (November 2011).
Guidance is also available from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the form of:
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): Resource for Adult Social Care, DHSC
- Prevention and Control of Infection in Care Homes: An Information Resource (2013), DHSC
- HSG220 Health and Safety in Care Homes (2nd edition) (2014), HSE.
Specialist advice and support will be obtained from the local public health protection team and from relevant primary healthcare teams.
Definitions and Theory
{{org_field_name}} understands the term “aseptic techniques” to refer to clinical procedures that have been developed to prevent contamination of wounds and other susceptible body sites.
The recognised evidence-based principles of asepsis are based upon the following six components.
- Effective hand hygiene/decontamination.
- Proper user of personal protective equipment.
- Adequate preparation of the person receiving care for any invasive procedure.
- Creating and maintaining a sterile field during the procedure.
- The use of safe invasive techniques.
- Creating a safe environment by ensuring the cleanliness of rooms where aseptic techniques are practised.
The home understands that an effective aseptic technique is vital in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infection and should be used during any invasive procedure that breaches the body’s natural defences, eg skin or mucous membranes, or when handling equipment that will enter a normally sterile cavity or area.
Procedure
To fully protect people who use services in {{org_field_name}} from the risks associated with clinical procedures the following will be adhered to.
- Aseptic techniques will be carried out in such a way as to be compliant with agreed procedures standardised across the organisation.
- Clinical procedures will be carried out at all times in a manner that maintains and promotes established evidence-based principles of asepsis.
- Clinical procedures requiring asepsis will only be conducted by staff who are fully trained, qualified and supervised in the appropriate techniques and procedures required.
- Staff conducting clinical procedures will:
a. keep the exposure of any susceptible site to a minimum
b. ensure that effective hand decontamination takes place before the procedure commences and that there is correct usage of sterile gloves
c. protect their uniform or clothing with a disposable plastic apron
d. ensure that all equipment or fluids used are sterile
e. check any sterile single-use packs before use for evidence of damage, moisture penetration and that they are within expiry date
f. ensure good skin preparation by using appropriate decontamination around the affected skin site — this assists in the reduction of infection by lowering the chances that the person’s own skin flora will not enter the wound
g. create a sterile field by placing sterile towels around the procedure site and on the surface that will hold sterile instruments and other items such as dressings. - Clinical environments will be kept clean and fit for use at all times; surfaces that may have been contaminated during a procedure should be cleaned and disinfected.
{{org_field_name}} requires staff at all times to comply fully with The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for Health and Adult Social Care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance.
Implementation
All staff are responsible for the implementation of this policy.
Overall responsibility for ensuring that the policy is implemented, monitored and reviewed rests with the Infection Control Lead for the home.
The Infection Control Lead will work closely with the manager of the home to ensure that all infection control policies are effectively implemented and that the home has adequate supplies of handwashing materials and facilities, personal protective equipment and sterile clinical equipment.
Individual staff practitioners are responsible for ensuring that they implement this policy wherever necessary and exercise adequate infection control precautions at all times, seeking further advice from the Infection Control Lead as required.
Information on the policy will be:
- circulated to all staff
- provided to all new employees
- included in the Infection Control Policy, the Clinical Waste Policy, and the Disinfection of Medical Devices Policy.
Training
All new staff should be encouraged to read this policy as part of their induction process. Those staff who are required to perform aseptic procedures will be expected to be appropriately trained, qualified and competent to do so. The home will ensure that appropriate access to ongoing refresher training and assessment in aseptic techniques will be provided to all persons undertaking such procedures.
In {{org_field_name}}, all aseptic practice will be subject to regular clinical supervision.
Audit
The use of aseptic techniques within the organisation will be subject to regular audit to monitor compliance with the technique.
The Infection Control Lead for the home is responsible for ensuring that evidence-based policies and procedures in relation to the control of infection are developed and their implementation is monitored.
The Infection Control Lead for the home will monitor carefully any incident reports relating to infection control matters in order to identify any trends or patterns.
Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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