Personal hygiene and infection prevention in health and social care settings

Hand Hygiene: Clean hands regularly, especially before and after providing care. Washing hands with soap and warm water is the best method but sanitiser may be used if water is not accessible.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use gloves, masks, aprons, and other PPE as needed. These can help prevent the spread of infections.

Personal grooming: Keep hair tied back and nails clipped short. Remove jewellery and watches as they can harbour germs.

Respiratory Hygiene: Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing. This prevents droplets spreading.

Environmental Cleaning: Keep the environment clean as germs can survive on surfaces. Clean and disinfect touch points frequently.

Infection Control Procedures: Adhere strictly to the infection control procedures of the care setting. This includes proper hand hygiene, wearing PPE, and routine cleaning.

Safe Waste Disposal: Dispose of waste safely and effectively to minimise potential contamination. This includes sharp objects, used PPE and bodily fluid waste.

Safe Food Handling Practices: Maintain good food hygiene practices such as clean utensils and preparation areas, as well as proper storage to prevent cross-contamination.

Immunisation: Ensure routine immunisations are up-to-date. This is an important prevention measure for many infectious diseases.

Monitoring and Reporting: Keep vigilant for signs of infection and report to a supervisor or healthcare professional as quickly as possible. Early detection can help prevent the spread of infections.

Education and Awareness: Participate in regular training about infection control and encourage others to do the same. The more everyone knows, the better they can implement these important procedures.

Care of Equipment: Regularly disinfect equipment and don’t share personal items. These can become contaminated and spread germs.

Avoiding Unnecessary Exposure: Limit the potential exposure risk by only having necessary contact and maintaining social distancing measures when possible.

Personal Hygiene in Health and Social Care Settings

Infection Prevention in Health and Social Care Settings