- Establish the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme in the Hospital and ensure the following.
- Develop an action plan for strengthening IPC measures for the facility and individual units within the facility with priorities based on the risk matrix for that unit and appropriate review.
- Constitute an infection control team.
- Review and revise annually infection control guidelines with policies,recommendations and working protocols, including activities and practices under the programme, with standard precautions and hand hygiene as key components.
- Organize training programmes on recommendations of the guidelines and IPC practices for staff and other HCWs.
- Develop an antibiotic policy and antibiotic stewardship programme.
- Conduct surveillance of AMR and HAI.
- Analyse the surveillance data for HAI (including identification of common sources and routes of entry of infectious microorganisms) on a monthly basis (or more frequently in case an outbreak is suspected) and identify at-risk patients. Take appropriate action and implement recommendations where necessary.
- Monitor the trends of HAI regularly and compare the rates of infections within the Hospital and with other facilities wherever feasible.
- Monitor and assess, on a regular basis, compliance with recommended practices such as hand hygiene, cleaning and decontamination, disinfection and sterilization through audits and quality control of IPC activities Investigate outbreaks of HAIs in collaboration with medical, nursing and other staff.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for IPC.
- Participate in the selection of equipment and material and provide advice and focus on IPC measures.
- Help control environmental risks for infection by liaising with appropriate departments such as healthcare waste management, provision of safe water (testing of water sources), pharmacy, housekeeping services,laundry and kitchen services.
- Establish links with related health programmes in the Hospital such as injection safety programme, TB control programme and control of HIV/ AIDS.
- Ensure a multimodal approach for implementation of IPC, integrate 3–5 different activities for behaviour change.
- Introduce system change (equipment/ infrastructure), education, monitoring, communication as well as culture change (through champions/ leaders).
- Use tools such as care bundles or checklists.
- Organize periodic (monthly/ quarterly) meetings of HICC and take minutes with clear action points to delegate responsibilities for implementation.
- Helping with an IPC team responsible for day-to-day activities with the following members:
- Infection control officer: the team leader;
- Infection Control Nurse and
- One link nurse from every unit.
