Friday 3rd September 2010

Infection Control Week

October 15th to 19th is National Infection Control Week IPS logo

Infection Control Week is an event held every year to highlight the tremendous amount of work that the staff in local hospitals and community healthcare establishments do all year round, to keep patients and clients who come into contact with healthcare services safe and free from healthcare associated infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile. This collaboration between the National Resource for Infection Control (NRIC) and the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) aims to highlight 'National Infection Control Week 2007' and to encourage Infection Prevention and Control Specialists and other healthcare staff to use this opportunity to demonstrate the importance of infection prevention and control in their primary and secondary care settings locally.

Judy Potter
Judy Potter, ICNA Conference 2007
"The National electronic Library of Infection's Infection Control Week web page provides an unrivalled source of useful information for UK based infection control teams who are participating in National Infection Prevention and Control week. The list of resources will assist in the planning and implementation of local events and represents a unique resource for all professionals looking for a one stop shop full of excellent resources on Infection Prevention and Control"
Judy Potter (President of the IPS)
"Infection Control Week provides us all with a reminder of just how important good infection prevention and control really is. Ensuring that every patient is afforded a high standard of clean and safe care should be central to how we deliver care to patients. Websites like NeLI and www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk are there to help NHS staff understand their role and make their contribution to the reduction of infections like MRSA and C.difficile".
Janice Stevens, Programme Director, MRSA/Cleaner hospitals, DH Clean Safe Care

Resources

Aims of Infection Prevention and Control Week

  • To assist infection prevention and control professionals in planning and implementing this important event so that it impacts significantly as part of their annual local infection prevention and control programme.
  • To ensure that staff working within the healthcare environment understand their role, accountability and responsibility in reducing healthcare associated infection
  • To support the principles of national policy and guidance, chiefly the Health Act 2006 “Code of Practice for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection”
  • To help improve clinical outcomes and patient safety through evidence based infection prevention and control practice
  • To raise the profile of the Trust’s efforts to reduce cross infection
  • To advertise what is available locally to support patients, relatives and staff who require information on infection prevention and control and infectious diseases

NeLI & NRIC

The National Resource for Infection Control (NRIC) was launched in May 2005 in response to National Audit Office (2000/04) recommendations for a national infection control manual. The project is funded by the Department of Health (UK) and endorsed by the UK National electronic Library of Infection which covers a broad range of infectious diseases and provides a single access point to the best available resources on infection.

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Infection Prevention Society

September 2007 sees a significant development in the field of infection prevention and control, with the launch of the Infection Prevention Society (IPS). This exciting development completes the transformation of the Infection Control Nurses Association (ICNA) into an organisation that welcomes as full members all professionals working in the field of infection prevention and control.

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