[Emer Ward]

Hi, we have an option of surgical hand rub for inbetween cases.
A regular scrub at the begining of a list and then alcohol rub inbetween.

if they leave the theare for break e.g. they need to regular scrub again and then the inbetween alcohol rub

Regards

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi Tracy,

body bags are used routinely in WGH.

Regards

emer

[Emer Ward]

please see below the email written to the NDC

From: IPC Ireland
Sent: Tuesday 17 December 2024 17:08
To: edward.oconnell@hse.ie
Cc: IPC Ireland
Subject: NDC rationalisation of IP&C products

Dear Edward,

Infection Prevention Control Ireland are a professional body for IPC practitioners in Ireland.

It has been brought to the attention of the IPCI that the national procurement department have plans to “rationalise” the supply of products that have a direct impact of the IP&C practices and patient safety in hospitals and other healthcare institutions.

The suitability of these products for use in individual hospital should be determined by the IPCT . There are different properties in each of these products and one size does not fit all. The products in use in each hospital or healthcare institution have been chosen for a reason and not just randomly selected from a shelf.

Wipes are a classic example of differing properties and differing uses and differing quality. Some wipes contain disinfectant and detergent and some just detergent and some just disinfectant. The type of disinfectant is differs and even not all detergents are the same. It is not possible to bring these products down to just one as each hospital has policies and procedures based on the products they use. The members of the IPCI are experts in their field and as such are best placed to determine what is suitable for use and what is not.

I am unsure as to what products you are looking at “rationalising”. I am aware from other colleagues that a unilateral decision was made to change the disinfectant tablets used in hospitals which are completely different from what was in place and will have a negative impact on effective decontamination and therefore patient safety. The IPC teams are aware of the difference in products and therefore no product should be changed without the explicit agreement of the IPCT.

I have been in contact with the members of the IPCI and they are in agreement that there should be no rationalisation of any products that interfere with the IP&C guidance and practice of healthcare institutions. It is easy to make the mistake that one product is the same as another without the necessary expertise to make that judgment.

I should be grateful if you would bring this email to the attention of your team to ensure the plans to implement this strategy cease.

kind regards
Emer

Emer Ward
Chair IPCIreland

[Emer Ward]

Hi Jean,
we looked at this a few years ago. Attached is a policy I found from the UK its old but probablt still relevant.

I think the type of healthcare facility would matter, acute V LTCF or non acute

Attachments:

1. Dogs-in-Hospital.doc

[Emer Ward]

hi, I will try and attach the newlatter again

Attachments:

1. word-doc-Greetings-from-the-Board-of-IFIC-and-welcome-to-the-IFIC-Newsletter.docx

[Emer Ward]

Hi all,
for those of you who attended the conference on 3rd May as full paid up members, I have attached the certificate of attendance for you to download.

Thanks

Emer

Attachments:

1. attendance-cert-2024.doc

[Emer Ward]

this is a tough one Liam.

I agree with your advice above. Unfortunately I’m not sure how appropriate it is for patient facing staff not to be able to perform hand hygiene as per the 5 moments for the safety of patients and indeed the staff member.

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi,

i also think there will be a health and safety issue regarding the ventilation system and a scavanging system for the anaesthetic gases.

In WGH there was an issue with our theatres a number of years ago and we were down to one theatre. Provision was required for a catagory one C section in the event that both the OR and the anaesethic room was unavailable a new delivey room that had some ventilation had to be converted. The main issue wasnt the OR ventilation as this would only be used in an lifethreatening situation, but the H&S risks for the staff reagrding the anaesthetic gases.

the manufacturer of the anaesthetic machine came up with a tempory solution but it would not be sustainable long term.

I attach the minor procedure guidelines produced a number of years ago which we used in our OPD. Im not sure if there has been an update of these guidelines since.

Regards
Emer

Attachments:

1. guidelines_on_the_facilities_required_for_minor_surgical_procedures_and_minimal_access_interventions.pdf

[Emer Ward]

Thanks Helen,

which dpeartments are using them and is it just the 30l that you use?

[Emer Ward]

Hi Lenora,

I havent come accross them before but I suppose if they are fully decontaminatable (not a word I know but it should be!) thye should be ok. I looked some up and its hard to see how the would be filled and emptied. They may be more of a H&S risk than IP&C

keep us posed on how you get on

regards
Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi Lenora,

i asked about these in WGH.

We only use the Mapleson when transfering a patient to ICU and they are disposed of after use.

the anaesthetic other circuits are used with a distal and a proximal filter and are re sued. the distal filter is disposed of each Friday and re attached on a monday morning. The proximal filter is disposed of after each use.

im not very au fait with the use of anaesthetic machines so I hope this makes sense.

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi Lenora,

I would presume as they have been in contactwith mucous membranes and potentailly blood they should be disposed of as risk waste.

Regards

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Apologies, please find agenda attached

Attachments:

1. conference-poster-2023-2.doc

[Emer Ward]

Hi Tracy,

WGH is considering stopping routine asymptomatic surveillance testing in scheduled and unscheduled admissions. We are getting so many patients testing positive with high CT values and none have turned out to have active infection but most likely post infection.  The patients state they had positive antigen tests in the last few weeks but very few have registered them.we have a system of routine covid screening on a designated form which must be completed at least twice a day to help ensure we capture any patients with new symptoms.

I dont think the PPE policy should change just yet. All patient facing staff will continue to wear FFP2’s

we have another few mitigation policies insitu which will help. the national guidelines i think will allow hospitals to risk assess their own environment and data. Almost all of our outbreaks over the past 2 years have occured inthe one area where the environment is particularly challanging so we may do something different there. Im watching a situation there are the moment and the outcome may influence our decision.

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Please note the change of date for this meeting to 12th Aug at 12.30

Regards

Emer

[Author]

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