Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Tool for Long-term Care

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving treatment for other conditions within a healthcare setting.

It is estimated that the rates of HAIs in personal care homes range from 1.8 to 13.5 per 1,000 patient care days. Such infections can significantly increase overhead costs to an organization(1). The risk of infection is high in long-term care because residents are already at risk. Pre-existing conditions, medical procedures, touching contaminated surfaces, or even holding a loved one’s hand can lead to contamination. However, infection can also spread easily when healthcare workers do not follow proper hand hygiene(2).

To help prevent instances of and to mitigate costs of healthcare-associated infections, the CDC has posted a new tool for assessing infection control programs and practices in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. This tool is particularly beneficial for health centers to use in their own self-assessment procedures.

To access this tool, click here: http://bit.ly/2j5LskO

For more information on healthcare-associated infections in Canada , visit: http://bit.ly/2j5HfxG

(1) IPAC. (December 2016). Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Program Standard. Retrieved on January, 16, 2017, from http://ipac-canada.org/photos/custom/CJIC/Vol31No4supplement.pdf

(2) Public Health Agency of Canada (2013). Report on the State of Public Health in Canada, 2013: Infectious Disease- the Never-ending Threat. Retrieved on January 15, 2017, from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cphorsphc-respcacsp/2013/infections-eng.php#footnote17