International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) takes place this week on 13-19 October 2024.

Established in 1986, IIPW aims to shine a light on infection prevention each and every year.

The theme for 2024 is “Moving the needle on infection prevention.”

As part of IIPW Miele Professional outlines how care homes can achieve CQC compliance this winter.

As the colder months approach and infection rates begin their annual rise, upholding strict infection control measures in care homes becomes vital for protecting vulnerable residents from seasonal outbreaks.

This International Infection Prevention Week, Nicky Whittaker, national account manager at Miele Professional, offered expert tips on maintaining hygiene standards that effectively safeguard against harmful infections such as influenza, Norovirus, and Covid. These tips also ensure compliance with CQC regulations, keeping care homes inspection ready.

Infection prevention and control policies: Establish and maintain comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPC) policies that are regularly reviewed and updated. These policies should include risk assessments, outbreak management plans, staff training and education, as well as monitoring and auditing. They must outline clear procedures for identifying, preventing, and managing infections, and specify the responsibilities of staff members.

Personal hygiene: Effective handwashing remains the single most important step in preventing the spread of infection. Care home staff should be trained to wash hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly after any interaction with residents or contaminated surfaces. Staff should also tie back long hair and cover any open wounds with suitable dressings.

Protective equipment: The proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential. Single-use gloves, aprons, and face masks should be worn during all interactions that involve personal care and must be disposed of immediately after use. Following these practices minimises the spread of infection between residents and staff.

Laundry management: Laundry plays an often-overlooked role in infection prevention. Care homes should ensure that soiled linens are separated from clean items and laundered using high-temperature disinfection cycles. As outlined in the Department of Health’s Health Technical Memorandum 01-04, the laundry process should involve temperatures of 65°C for 10 minutes or 71°C for three minutes to effectively kill pathogens. These high temperatures can only be achieved through commercial machines and not domestic.

Staff training in infection control: Regular staff training is essential to ensure that all personnel understand infection prevention protocols, effectively safeguarding the health and wellbeing of residents and staff. At Miele Professional, we offer a free, accredited online training course that covers the most common types of infections encountered in care homes, how to prevent the spread of infection, and upholding infection control in the laundry room. Care homes can register their staff for this training by contacting Miele Professional directly.