Measures to prevent the spread of infection

The spread of infection represents a serious risk for any care home. Rigorous hand hygiene is crucial, but with institutions trying to do ever more with ever fewer resources, keeping up with compliance can be a struggle.

Care homes unite large numbers of people in one place with many of these people highly susceptible to catching infections. Furthermore, the fact that carers frequently move between rooms – looking after residents in quick succession, often with little or no time in between – further increases the chance of germs and bacteria travelling, with serious implications for residents, relatives and carers alike.

Residents can be at considerable risk. As the Department of Health warns, infections caught in care homes can worsen underlying health conditions in residents. The recovery of patients could be adversely affected. Hospitalisation is a potential consequence. In some cases, infections may be life threatening. It should be in the interest of everyone involved to keep the risk of a spread of infections to an absolute minimum. There is more than one way to achieve this, and all of them have a role, but it is widely acknowledged that there is no other single activity that can do more to control the spread of infection than hand hygiene. Health care professionals, government departments and international organisations all agree that a rigorous hand hygiene regime is crucial for every care home.