INFECTION CONTROL AND CABSI PREVENTION IN NCCC
Hand Hygiene
· Individuals, who enter the NCCC and intend to touch an infant or items at the bedside, must perform a thorough hand wash at the sink inside the unit door. This hand wash must include hands, forearms up to the elbows, paying special attention to the nails.
· Thereafter, hands should be washed with CHG and water when visibly soiled.
· Hand hygiene is required between contact with patients. If hands appear visually clean, hand hygiene may be performed using bedside Purell foam pumps.
· Each person is responsible to monitor the compliance of hand hygiene in the NCCC with all UNC employees, parents and visitors.
Visitors
· Visitors with signs of illness will be excluded from visiting NCCC patients. Mothers with post-partum fever, (>38 degrees C) will not be permitted to visit.
· Children visiting in NCCC must be screened and approved for visiting by the patient’s nurse (Children’s Visitation Policy), designated by the screening sticker worn on the child’s clothing.
· Visiting NCCC “graduates” will be visited by nursing staff, outside the doors of NCCC in the lobby area near the elevators.
Healthcare Workers (HCW)
· Staff with signs of infectious illness may not work in NCCC, (e.g. conjunctivitis, oral herpes, fever and respiratory illness).
· Occupational Health may clear staff to work with questionable signs of illness.
· Clean scrubs are to be worn each shift.
· Long sleeved tops, rings with stones, and watches are prohibited.
· Fingernails of all clinical HCW’s should be no longer than the fingertip.
· Only clear nail polish is allowed, to optimize visualization under nails when performing hand hygiene.
· No artificial nails, tips, extenders or applications.
· Hair is to be kept off the collar, never touching patient or patient equipment/supplies during care or treatment.
Eating and Drinking:
· No eating or drinking in patient care areas.
· Patient’s mothers are allowed covered drinks in pods.
· Federal OSHA law prohibits staff from eating or drinking in any area that may pose a contamination with infectious material risk, such as the nursing station.
CABSI prevention:
· Prevention of central line infections is a life-saving effort in out unit. Please watch the following video telling Gabby’s story: http://www.pqcnc.org/?q=node/12879
· Remember hand-washing and sterile technique during line placement.
· Complete the Central line insertion checklist when placing ALL central lines (ask staff for location).
· Include “Access” as a problem in you daily progress note and monitor dressing integrity daily (ask if you are unsure about dressing integrity).
HOW TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL:
· The Infection Control Professional for NCCC is: Elizabeth Walters, RN, pager 123-4904 or office number: 843-9343.
· Infection Control questions can be answered by the Hospital Epidemiology Department, 966-1638.
· After hours, on weekends and holidays, call the Infection Control Nurse on call, 218-2683.
Revised 6/2016 by SA