Home
/
NowPatient Blog
/
What is infection control?

What is infection control?

Navin Khosla NowPatientGreen tick
Created on 1 Jul 2024
Updated on 16 Jul 2024

Infections are a significant threat in healthcare settings, compromising patient safety and undermining the quality of care. Fortunately, effective infection control measures can reduce these risks, protecting healthcare workers, patients, and visitors alike. This guide looks into the world of infection control, exploring its principles, strategies, and best practices.

Understanding infection control

At its core, infection control prevents or slows down the spread of infectious agents within healthcare environments. These measures are important in safeguarding the well-being of all individuals who interact with the healthcare system, from patients to healthcare professionals and visitors.

Germs are everywhere

Microorganisms or germs, are part of our existence. They thrive in the air we breathe, the soil under our feet, and even within our bodies. While some of these microorganisms are beneficial, others can cause serious health risks, making it crucial to understand their behaviour, to implement effective control measures.

How does infection occur?

Three stages for an infection to occur:

  • An infectious agent must originate from a source, which can range from contaminated surfaces, blood and other body fluids, secretions or excretions, non-intact skin, or mucous membranes, and any equipment or items in the environment that could have become contaminated with pathogens
  • The pathogen must find a susceptible host, someone whose immune system is compromised or lacks the necessary defences to fight off the invading microorganisms
  • A mode of transmission must aid the journey of the infectious agent from its source to the susceptible host

Reservoirs: Where pathogens lurk

Reservoirs, or sources of infectious agents, can take many forms within healthcare settings. These include:

  • Human reservoirs, such as patients, healthcare workers, and visitors who may be carrying pathogens
  • Dry surfaces in patient care areas, including bed rails, medical equipment, countertops, and tables
  • Wet surfaces, moist environments, and biofilms or surfaces in damp conditions, like the insides of pipes
  • Cooling towers, taps, sinks, and equipment like ventilators
  • Medical devices, such as catheters and IV lines
  • Dust or decaying debris from construction sites or water leaks

How infectious agents spread

Infectious agents can use various transmission pathways to reach susceptible individuals. These pathways include:

  • Physical contact, such as when a healthcare provider touches contaminated medical equipment and then touches a patient without proper hand hygiene
  • Respiratory infections where droplets generated by coughing or sneezing, land on a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Inhalation of airborne pathogens released through coughing, talking, or disturbances like construction dust
  • Sharps injuries, such as accidental needle stick incidents

Risk factors

Certain conditions can make individuals more susceptible to the risk of infection, compromising their body’s natural defences. These factors include:

  • Underlying medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, or organ transplantation
  • Medications such as antibiotics, steroids, and certain cancer treatments, can reduce the body’s ability to fight infections
  • Medical procedures or treatments like urinary catheters, tubes, and surgery, can create additional entry points for pathogens

Control of infection measures

To combat the threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), healthcare providers must implement a comprehensive infection control strategy. This strategy involves two tiers of precautions:

  • Standard precautions: These are universal measures applied to all patient care scenarios, regardless of the patient’s known infection status
  • Transmission-based precautions: These additional precautions are implemented when caring for patients known or suspected to be infected with specific pathogens

In addition, healthcare providers can refer to transmission-and pathogen-specific guidelines to enhance their infection control efforts.

Standard precautions: The foundation of infection prevention

Standard precautions are the cornerstone of infection control measures, designed to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission from both recognised and unrecognised sources. These precautions include:

  • Proper hand hygiene, such as handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers
  • Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, gowns, masks, aprons and eye protection
  • Safe handling and disposal of sharps and contaminated materials
  • Following respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
  • Proper environmental cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment

Transmission-based precautions

When caring for patients known or suspected to be infected with specific pathogens, healthcare providers must implement additional precautions. These precautions are categorised as follows:

  • Contact precautions: For pathogens that can spread through direct or indirect contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces
  • Droplet precautions: Applied when caring for patients with infections that can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, during coughing, sneezing, or certain procedures
  • Airborne precautions: For pathogens that can remain suspended in the air and be transmitted over longer distances through inhalation

Self-protection precautions

Patients can also take proactive steps to safeguard their well-being. These strategies include:

  • Practicing good hand hygiene, especially washing hands before eating and after using the bath room
  • Asking healthcare providers to clean their hands before providing care
  • Reporting any concerns about cleanliness or potential breaches in infection control protocols
  • Following instructions for wound care, medication administration, and other self-care activities

Updating infection control practices

Effective infection control is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance and adaptation. Healthcare facilities should implement robust systems to monitor the incidence of HAIs to identify areas for improvement. Regular audits can help evaluate the effectiveness of existing practices to identify opportunities for enhancement.

Additionally, ongoing education and training are essential to ensure that all staff members are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement infection control measures effectively.

A shared responsibility

Infection control is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration from healthcare providers, patients, visitors, and the broader community. Encouraging accountability and promoting open communication can create an environment where everyone plays an active role in preventing the spread of infections.

Challenges

As the healthcare landscape evolves, new challenges arise for infection control. Healthcare providers must remain adaptable, addressing new threats such as antimicrobial resistance, novel infectious diseases, and the increasing complexity of medical procedures.

This may include the development of advanced diagnostic tools, innovative disinfection technologies, and data-driven approaches to surveillance and risk assessment.

Conclusion

Infection control is a critical component of modern healthcare delivery, safeguarding the well-being of patients, healthcare workers, and the broader community.

By understanding the principles of infection control, following evidence-based practices, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, healthcare facilities can create a more secure environment for all.

Sources

Medical Disclaimer

NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.

The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.

Now Patient Data Security

Data Security

Trusted and certified to keep your data safe.

Learn moreNow Patient Data SecurityNow Patient Data Security

WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT

We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives

The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.

Download our app today

NowPatient dashboard

Your Questions Answered

For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly

What does NowPatient do?

NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.

Get started today and benefit from medication remindersGet Treated PrivatelyNHS online pharmacyGP appointment bookingRx savings cardDrug CouponsUS drug savings programshealth conditions informationgenetic testinghome test kitsBMI RisksType 2 Diabetes Riskspollen meterair quality monitor, and lots more!

Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.

UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.

US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

Where is NowPatient located?

NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.

In the UK, we are located at:

NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA

In the US, we are located at:

NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX

How can I contact NowPatient?

To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.

Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:

UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977

Who owns NowPatient?

NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.

Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).

Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?

NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.

Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).

Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.

How do I make a complaint?

From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?

Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:

• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old

NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?

Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.

You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.

Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?

Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.

NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.

Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:

NowPatient Trustpilot

What are NowPatient’s opening hours?

Our office hours are:

UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST

Please note that we are closed at weekends.

In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:

UK – 999
US – 911

In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:

UK – 111

Find more answers