August 15, 2022
Article
In April, the Government published new guidance on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). Richard Newton of Opeque explains what it means for care home owners.
The new Government guidance for Care Homes published in April 2022 is no different in principle to the 2013 Department of Health document, but the content is re-packaged and provides far greater emphasis and instruction on the need to control and reduce the risks posed by infections.
The root causes of infection are manifold and whilst clinical in essence, the vectors for their transmission are physical and procedures must be correctly managed. Much has been learnt over the last few years, and we should now be prepared to implement the required procedures to keep safe at all times. Beyond Covid, what exactly is the future strategy and skills pathway for Infection Prevention and Control, Risk Management and Safety Culture Excellence in your Care Home?
Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem that makes infections harder to treat with existing medicines. High standards of IPC reduce the opportunities for infections to spread and for resistance to develop, which is why the guidance has been developed. You can read more about it here:
Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
IPC measures which care homes should consider include:
- Antimicrobial fabric treatments for the laundering of bed linen, towels, staff uniforms and residents’ clothing. This provides a residual long lasting anti-viral and anti-bacterial quality, to ensure that all fabrics are hygienically clean and will not allow the transmission of sources of infection
- Ozone generators for water treatment, laundry processing, room/air purification and cleaning of fabric/clothes
- Copper Silver ionisation based water treatment systems for controlling Legionella Pneumophila, Pseudonomas Aeruginosa and other water borne bacteria. Water storage and distribution systems should be surveyed to ensure that that the correct equipment is specified and installed
- Copper cover antimicrobial surface treatment for handles and push plates. This is an age- old principle of deploying the antimicrobial properties of copper, applied to surfaces using current state of the art technology
- Laundry machinery, process specification, detergent supply and hygiene quality diagnostics.
Opeque has previously worked with hundreds of care homes, providing direct services as a supplier of laundry equipment, along with its operation and servicing requirements; water treatment systems for Legionella control; antimicrobial treatments for fabrics, soft furnishings and hard surfaces and general hygiene control through the use of ozone generators. Its team is complemented by access to many healthcare and microbiological experts, and includes a vastly experienced carer and nurse to ensure a reality check is applied to the technical approach.
In addition to the IPC measures outlined above, Opeque can also provide buildings and services M&E installation and maintenance services; energy surveying to identify cost reduction opportunities; energy and utility supplies procurement and carbon footprinting/sustainability analysis to produce your net zero strategy.
Contact Opeque at richard@opeque.com , telephone 07831 873355 or visit www.opeque.com. You can also meet the team at an upcoming event: https://carehomesipc.co.uk/ and https://www.careroadshows.co.uk/exhibitors-london/