Infection control

The following resources are available in the RCN library to help in the promotion of safe practice.

RCN resources

Title: Infection prevention and control: minimum standards
Corporate Author: Royal College of Nursing
Publication info: London: RCN, January 2009.
Title: Safe management of health care waste: RCN guidance
Corporate Author: Royal College of Nursing
Publication info: London: RCN, c2007

Title: Personal hygiene care
Personal author: Dingwall, Lindsay
Publication info: Chichester, West Sussex; Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
Summary: Meeting the hygiene needs of patients is a fundamental aspect of nursing care. This practical and introductory guide outlines and emphasises the nursing skills required to meet the essential personal hygiene care needs of patients in various care settings. It explores care of the eyes, ears, mouth, nails and hair, and provides evidence-based rationales for each procedure. Methods of washing your patient are discussed, and bed-making and patient positioning is explored.

Prevention and control of clostridium difficile infection.
Gould, D.
Nursing Older People. 2010 Apr. 22(3). pp. 29-37.
Continuing Professional Development article, NOP358. Risk factors, pathogenesis, transmission of infection, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of clostridium difficile among elderly patients. Methods for prevention and control of infection, including hand hygiene, protective clothing, isolation, disposal of infectious waste, handling excreta, laundry, environmental cleaning, communication between staff and visitors and antibiotic prescribing are included. 25 refs.
Potential pitfalls in adherence to hand washing in the community.
Nazarko, L.
British Journal of Community Nursing. 2009 Feb. 14(2). pp. 64-8.
Overview of evidence-based practice for overcoming barriers to good hand hygiene in the community setting, including inadequate facilities in patients' homes, inappropriate clothing and jewellery, and dermatitis caused by frequent washing. Hand washing techniques are described, with diagrams, and recommendations are included for hand care products, infection risk assessment, nail length and avoiding dryness. 18 refs.
MRSA infections.
Holcomb, S.
Nursing. 2008 Jun. 38(6). pp. 33.
Patient Education Series. Information aimed at patients on MRSA. The development of MRSA infection and its diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are described. Advice is given on preventing the spread of MRSA to other parts of the body or to other people. 1 ref.