Page 94 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

6.1.4 Handwashing
• Adherence to good hand hygiene is mandatory.
• Rings, watches, and bracelets should not be worn while providing patient care. All
jewelry should be removed before hand hygiene as this interferes with effective
handwashing. Cuts and abrasions should be covered with waterproof dressings.
• All personnel will perform a 2-3 minute scrub with an antiseptic soap prior to beginning
patient care in the nursery and upon re-entering the nursery care area. This scrub
should include all areas of the hands and arms to the elbows. 4% chlorhexidine is
the recommended handwashing preparation.
• Alcoholic Chlorhexidine 4% as a fast acting skin rub disinfectant may replace
handwashing especially in situations where there is no visible contamination of the
hands and decontamination is needed urgently.
• The handrub solution must come into contact with all surfaces of the hand. The
hands must be rubbed together vigorously, paying particular attention to the tips of
the fingers, the thumbs and the areas between the fingers, and until the solution has
evaporated and the hands are dry.
• Hands that are visibly soiled or potentially grossly contaminated with dirt or organic
material must be washed with liquid soap and water first.
• A 10-15 second wash will be performed before and after patient contact or after
contaminating the hands.
• Hands must be washed after gloves are removed.
• Other healthcare workers involved with neonatal care, including radiographers,
physiotherapists and occupational therapists must observed strict hand hygiene
before and after attending to these neonates.

6.1.5 Newborn Isolation
• Most infections in newborns do not require special isolation precautions. General
newborn care measures will prevent transmission of most infections between newborns.
• For most infections, where air control is not necessary, an isolation area can be
defined in the nursery or NICU .
• Infants suspected or diagnosed with infections transmitted by contact or droplets
(i.e., rubella, mumps, pertussis, and RSV) may require special precautions. A
distance of at least three feet should separate infected infants from other patients.
• Cohorting of infants may be used at times of nosocomial outbreaks. All patients with
multiresistant organism infection should be clearly identified.
• There are no special restrictions for admission of infants born outside the hospital.
They should be treated the same as infants born in the hospital. Infants suspected or
diagnosed with certain infections (i.e., varicella, measles, TB) require special
precautions. Infants of mothers with perinatal varicella or measles should also be
isolated. Isolation needs are determined by the mode of transmission of the pathogen
involved, the number of infected or colonized newborns, and the care required by those
newborns. The use of a negative pressure room can be considered where appropriate.

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