Healthcare associated infections are infections that someone has developed, as a direct result of receiving healthcare. Occasionally, carers or others providing healthcare may develop HCAIs.
The most commonly reported HCAIs are: urinary tract infections, wound infections (following surgery), skin infections and infections that cause vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
There are many reasons why patients develop HCAIs.
If you develop an HCAI in hospital or a care home, you may need to be looked after in a single room to prevent the spread of infection to others.
Healthcare staff may need to wear disposable gloves, aprons and/or masks when caring for you.
If you develop an HCAI you may need extra medication, depending on the type of infection you have developed.
You should be provided with advice about how you can prevent the infection from spreading to anyone else.
Hand sanitisers may not be suitable to use, depending on the infection you have. Staff will provide you with advice on what you should use.
Hand hygiene is an important way of preventing and controlling the spread of HCAIs.
Wet your hands before applying liquid soap.
Rub the soap vigorously into all areas of the hands to produce a lather.
Then rinse hands under running water and dry thoroughly.
You can use a hand sanitiser instead of soap and water if the hands are visibly clean.
Do not use sanitisers if someone is vomiting and/or has diarrhoea (norovirus), or when someone has clostridium difficile infection (infectious diarrhoea). If this is the case, a member of staff will let you know.
You don't have to wet your hands first.
You should rub your hands together, covering all areas of your hands, until the sanitiser is absorbed or dries.
If you require further advice or information, please contact the hospital's Infection Prevention and Control Team or a member of the ward/care home staff.
Infection prevention and control is everyone's responsibility.
Patients and visitors all have an important role to play in preventing the spread of healthcare associated infections.
HSC: Public Health Agency
DHSSPS: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Produced by the Public Health Agency, Ormeau Avenue Unit, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS. Tel: 028 9031 1611. Textphone/Text Relay: 18001 028 9031 1611.
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