Mrs. Logan Salmon1,2,3, Mr. Nigel Aberdour1
1Anglicare Southern Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2Australian College of Infection Prevention and Control, Brisbane, Australia, 3Australian College of Nursing, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Logan Salmon is a Practice Development Lead, with a background in psychological sciences and Registered Nursing. She has worked in a variety of settings, from mental health to neonatal and paediatric intensive care nursing. She is currently enrolled in the Masters in Infection Prevention and Control at Griffith University and loves to travel.
Nigel Aberdour is a Service Manager and Registered Nurse with a wealth of knowledge in the HIV space, community nursing, and hospital nursing.
Abstract:
Infection prevention and control (IPC) in the community setting is complex and involves a variety of risk management strategies to prevent or reduce infection. One of the main challenges identified is the lack of support and clinical supervision. This contributes to a difficult environment where the person must become an independent practitioner. To help combat this, the practitioner must undergo a continuous IPC risk management process to deliver safe quality care in potentially unsterile, unclean environments.
A comparative analysis of the impact of the environment on reported infection rates within the community was conducted. Community nurses’ and clinical managers were consulted and risks in the environment to IPC principles and practice was discussed and recorded. Reported infection rates in the setting were also observed and compared to risks to IPC identified during consultation.
Results of the environmental risks to IPC included attending to clients with mould in the home, cats wandering into sterile fields during aseptic procedures, sharps management, environmental cleaning, needles and paraphernalia in the environment, and not always knowing a client’s infectious status prior to entering the home. Reported infections included needlestick injuries, urinary tract infections, wound infections, and respiratory infections.
Future learnings of this analysis include the importance of education and training for all staff during onboarding and annually regarding standard and transmission-based precautions in the community setting. A thorough understanding of the IPC risk management process is also imperative for all staff in the community setting to evaluate, mitigate, and treat risks in the environment.