Our Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPC) is here to help, educate and signpost. Please feel free to stop us when we are out and about on the wards or you can reach us by email: Infection
Our IPC team covers Southport and Formby, South Sefton, St Helens, Knowsley, Liverpool Warrington, and Halton. The IPC team are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.
Measles
Measles is not just a childhood disease; it can make adults seriously unwell too. Across the North West, there has been an increase in the number of positive cases.
Measles is a highly infectious viral infection. Symptoms include a runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis (sore, itchy, watery, red and sticky eyes), high fever, rash (maculopapular) and feeling generally very unwell.
The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches. The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. The incubation period is between 10 to 12 days but can vary from 7 to 21 days. For additional information, visit the NHS website.
How we can assist: ensuring staff remain vigilant for possible cases, ensure anyone who presents at a health care setting is isolated appropriately at the earliest opportunity and MMR vaccination is arranged when appropriate.
Measles is not just a childhood disease; it can make adults seriously unwell too. The best way to protect yourself, your family, friends, our patients and service users, is by having the MMR vaccination. you can have your MMR at the vaccination centre in Maghull Health Park by booking a slot on YourSpace.
To view the recording of the North West Primary Care Webinar update and advice on Measles from Wednesday 6 March 2024, visit YourSpace.
For Measles Information and Guidance please visit the IPC Tiles on YourSpace.
IPC Link Practitioners
Link Champions have you completed your survey and returned it to the Infection Prevention and Control Team? If not please ensure it is returned by the 31 May 2024 to: Infection
World Hand Hygiene Day is the 5 May 2024. IPC will be visiting the below area on the 1 May 2024 -come and meet the team!
- Ashworth Reception - 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Hollins Park Reception 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Clock View Reception 1.30pm to 3.30pm
IPC will be visiting the below area on the 3 May 2024:
- Goodlass Road Reception - 9am to 11am
- Longmoor House Reception - 1pm to 3pm
Please visit the IPC champions tile on YourSpace
Any further interest in this role please speak with your line manager, contact the IPC team if further information required: Infection
PPE – Using gloves appropriately
Using gloves appropriately animation - HIS (Healthcare Infection Society) in conjunction with IPS (Infection Prevention Society) have launched a new animation for their ‘Gloves off’ campaign highlighting the critical importance of hand hygiene and proper glove usage in healthcare - complementing the getting back to basics theme.
Mouth Care Matters
Please see the below link to the website for Health Education England Mouth Care Matters programme, setting out to improve oral health.
Home - Mouth Care Matters (hee.nhs.uk)
The Mouth Care Matters programme aims to create a healthcare team that is more responsive and personalised for patients and delivers better clinical outcomes, bringing an increased awareness of the importance of good mouth care and how it impacts on general health and quality of life.
The initiative is relevant for all people who provide personal care to patients be that in an acute, care home or community setting. The website offers a wealth of training materials, posters and resources.
Influenza
Influenza is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. Influenza is highly infectious with a usual incubation period of one to three days. Flu is easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first five days.
Transmission is by droplets, aerosol, or through direct contact, spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
To reduce the risk of spreading flu:
- wash your hands often with warm water and soap
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (if you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow, not into your hand) bin used tissues as quickly as possible
- stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities. Find out more in the attached document.
Ventilation is an important IPC measure. Letting fresh air from outdoors into indoor spaces can help remove air that contains virus particles and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions.
Inpatients - always contact the infection prevention and control team if you suspect you have any service users displaying symptoms of flu. Telephone: 0151 295 3036, email: infection
Please see the attached document for the influenza checklist to be used within community settings.
Covid vs Influenza list
Disease Characteristics as per UKHSA Acute Respiratory Infection Resource Pack for Care Homes.
|
|
COVID-19 |
Influenza-like illness (ILI) |
|
Symptoms |
AND/OR:
AND/OR:
Other symptoms that may indicate COVID-19 in care home residents include:
|
AND:
OR:
Whilst it is recognised that older people may not always develop a fever with influenza, fever is necessary to define ILI[1].
|
IPC Link Practitioners
IPC have relaunched the IPC link practitioner role now known as IPC Champions.
Any further interest in this role please speak with your line manager, contact the IPC team if further information required: Infection
I SPY - Norovirus
Norovirus also called the "winter vomiting bug", is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about two days.
The main symptoms of norovirus are:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- diarrhoea
- being sick (vomiting).
You may also have:
- a high temperature
- a headache
- aching arms and legs.
The symptoms start suddenly within one to two days of being infected.
How to treat norovirus yourself:
- You can usually treat yourself at home
- The most important thing is to rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
- You will usually start to feel better in two to three days.
How norovirus is spread:
Norovirus can spread very easily.
You can catch norovirus from:
- close contact with someone with norovirus
- touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
- eating food that's been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus.
Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.
Inpatients - always contact the infection prevention and control team if you suspect you have any service users displaying symptoms of Norovirus (diarrhoea & vomiting). Telephone 0151 295 3036. Email infection
See the attached document for the diarrhoea and vomiting care plan.
See the attached SIGHT poster for guidelines for ward staff in the event of unexpected diarrhoea in service users.
IPC dates for the calendar: World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Health Days
- World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day – 30 January
- World Tuberculosis Day – 24 March
- World Health Day – 7 April
Influenza
Influenza is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. Influenza is highly infectious with a usual incubation period of one to three days. Flu is easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first five days.
The risk of serious illness from influenza is higher in people with low immunity.
Transmission is by droplets, aerosol, or through direct contact, spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
To reduce the risk of spreading flu:
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (if you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow, not into your hand) bin used tissues as quickly as possible
- Stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.
Find out more in the attached policy.
Vaccines
Flu viruses can change year on year. Consequently, vaccines are made each year to provide protection against the flu viruses that are predicted to circulate, and therefore the vaccine needs to be given on an annual basis.
Find out more about our COVID-19 and flu campaign on YourSpace. Book your vaccines today!
How effective is the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine will help prevent you getting flu and is your best protection against the virus. It will not stop all flu viruses but if you do get flu after vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and shorter-lived than it would otherwise have been. It takes between 10 and 14 days for your immune system to respond fully after you’ve had the flu jab.
IPC Link Practitioners
IPC have relaunched the IPC link practitioner role now known as IPC Champions.
Any further interest in this role please speak with your line manager, contact the IPC team if further information required: Infection
Secondment opportunity within the Infection Prevention and Control Team
IPC Band 6 secondment Opportunity
An exciting development opportunity has come up within the Trust IPC team. The IPCT are looking for 2 candidates to join the team for an 18-month secondment.
The successful candidates will work with the IPC team to prevent and control health care associated infections for service users, carers, staff and visitors to the Trust and we work with all Trust staff and in partnership with other local NHS trusts, non-NHS bodies, the local authorities, and the public to achieve this.
If interested, please contact:
Gillian Verdin- gillian
Moira Brown- moira
Infection
Bare Below the Elbow (BBE)
Bare below the elbows is a term used to how staff should present themselves when in a clinical environment. This reduces the risk of infection and increases effective handwashing.
To be compliant with bare below the elbow in line with the Uniform and work ware attire policy staff should:
- Wear short sleeves
- Remove hand and wrist jewellery
- Ensure fingernails are short and natural- no false nails
- Ensure nails are free from nail varnish
- Cover cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings.
What does it look like?
NO 
YES
The Facts
Staff not adhering to BBE are more likely to carry harmful bacteria and viruses under artificial nails, around and under watches and in stoned rings and on cuffs of long sleeved garments, which then are easily transferred to patients, themselves or other colleagues
- Cuffs become heavily contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus inclusive of MRSA and are more likely to come into contact with patients.
(Treakle, 2009).
- Healthcare workers who wear artificial nails are more likely to harbour Gram- Negative pathogens such as E. Coli on their fingertips. (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2009).
- Rings and watches are known to be associated with high numbers of bacteria on the hands and wrists (Salisbury ,1997)
- Bare below the elbow is supported globally, nationally and within local policy
Why is it so important?
Our patients may be more vulnerable to infection than the general population Bare below the elbow, helps with effective hand washing, which in turn helps to reduce the spread of infection.
Key points:
- Enables staff to wash their hands and wrists thoroughly
- Reduces the transmission of infection
- In the United Kingdom, improving hand hygiene in health-care settings can help prevent more than 1 300 deaths annually between 2015 and 2050
- Helps to keep our patients safe
- Keeps yourself and other staff safe.
Measles and you!
How we can assist: ensuring staff remain vigilant for possible cases, ensure anyone who presents at a health care setting is isolated appropriately at the earliest opportunity and MMR vaccination is arranged when appropriate. Measles is a highly infectious viral infection. Symptoms include a runny nose; cough; conjunctivitis (sore, itchy, watery, red and sticky eyes); high fever; rash (maculopapular); generally very unwell. The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches. The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. The incubation period is between 10 to 12 days but can vary from 7 to 21 days. For additional information please see link Measles |
Community Care Division update
Community Care Division Infection Prevention and Control - self audit schedule |
Well done to all Trust Link Practitioners
|
I SPY Escherichia Coli (E. coli)
Good IPC practices can minimise the risk of E.coli BSI. These include:
Break the E.coli chain: Delivery of safe practice at every patient intervention for device & procedures to prevent E.coli bacteraemia |
UKHSA Northwest Health Protection Team has recently identified a very small number of confirmed measles cases in the Greater Manchester area.
