Page 36 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

• Any medications/IV solutions, tube feedings or baby formula taken into an isolation
room that is not used must be discarded when patient is discharged.

6. Transportation of patients
• Limit the movement and transport of patients who require isolation and ensure
that such patients leave their rooms/isolated areas only for essential purposes.
• When patient transport is necessary, it is important that, appropriate barriers
(e.g., masks, impervious dressings) are worn or used by the patient to reduce
the opportunity for transmission of pertinent microorganisms to other patients,
personnel, and visitors and to reduce contamination of the environment.
• Any patient with a draining wound or skin lesions should be dressed with a clean
hospital gown before leaving the room. Cover all open wounds before transport.
• Personnel in the area to which the patient is to be taken must be notified of the
impending arrival of the patient and of the precautions to be used to reduce the
risk of transmission of infectious micro-organisms.
• Procedures for these patients should be scheduled at times when they can be
performed rapidly and when waiting areas are less crowded
• Use routes of transport that minimize exposures of staff, other patients and
visitors

7. Cleaning
• Isolation rooms are to be cleaned daily.

• Cleaning MUST precede disinfection. Items and surfaces cannot be disinfected if
they are not first cleaned of organic matter (patient excretions, secretions, dirt,
soil, etc).
• To avoid possible aerosolization of ARD pathogens, damp cleaning (moistened
cloth) rather than dry dusting or sweeping should be performed
• Horizontal surfaces and dust collecting areas, sites in the immediate patient
environment, sites HCWs often contact should be cleaned regularly and on
discharge
• To facilitate daily cleaning, keep areas around the patient free of unnecessary
supplies and equipment.
• Do not spray (i.e. fog) occupied or unoccupied rooms with disinfectant. This is a
potentially dangerous practice that has no proven disease control benefit
• To facilitate cleaning, and to reduce the potential for aerosolization caused by
use of a vacuum cleaner, isolate patients in uncarpeted rooms/areas,
• Upon discharge of the patient, isolation rooms will receive terminal cleaning.

Ministry of Health Malaysia 25