Infection prevention and control standards
Document Type
Standards
Summary
These standards are for health and adult social care settings.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) keeps people safe. Effective IPC can help reduce the risk of infection. It can ensure the safety of people receiving care, staff and visitors in health and social care settings.
Good IPC practice can help to reduce the prevalence of infections associated with:
- delivery of care in hospitals
- long-term care facilities (including care homes)
- wider care settings such as ambulances, prisons, hospices and independent healthcare facilities
They are a key component in the drive to reduce the risk of infections in health and social care in Scotland.
Overview of standards
Standard 1: The organisation demonstrates effective leadership and governance in IPC.
Standard 2: Staff are supported to undertake IPC education and training, appropriate to their role, responsibilities and workplace setting, to enable them to minimise infection risks in care settings.
Standard 3: The organisation implements robust communication systems and processes to enable person-centred decision making, continuity of care and effective IPC throughout a person’s care experience.
Standard 4: The organisation uses robust assurance and monitoring systems to ensure there is a co-ordinated and rapid response to reduce the risk of infections and to drive continuous quality improvement in IPC.
Standard 5: The organisation demonstrates reliable systems and processes for antimicrobial stewardship to support optimal antimicrobial use.
Standard 6: The organisation uses evidence-based IPC policies, procedures and guidance.
Standard 7: The organisation ensures that care equipment is cleaned, maintained and safe for use.
Standard 8: The organisation ensures that infection risks associated with the health and care built environment are minimised.
Standard 9: The organisation demonstrates the acquisition and provision of equipment that is safe for use in health and social care settings.