Supporting International Infection Prevention Week 2024
13-19 October is International Infection Prevention (IPC) Week, shining a light on infection prevention and reminding us of the fundamentals for effective infection prevention.
The information below outlines the IPC fundamentals and is aimed at health and care providers.
As always, you can visit the dedicated IPC Digital Hub for information on all things IPC, or contact the team: [email protected]
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Cleaning your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds will help keep you and others protected.
Follow these seven steps for effective hand hygiene:
Find out more about hand hygiene in the IPC Digital hub.
Cleaning and disinfection
Keeping equipment and the environment clean and free from dust is essential in preventing infection from spreading. It is important to recognise the difference between cleaning and disinfection:
- Cleaning physically removes germs/dirt (using detergent /hot soapy water).
- Cleaning does not kill microorganisms.
- Disinfection kills microorganisms but can only happen after cleaning has taken place.
For health and care professionals: more information about cleaning and disinfection can be found in chapter 1.6 and 2.3 and appendix 7 of the National Infection Prevention & Control Manual for England
Vaccinations
As we head into the colder months, remember that flu and Covid-19 can be especially dangerous for those at higher risk of severe illness.
Find out more about seasonal vaccinations, winter health and eligibility for vaccinations on the NHS website
Vaccines protect the person that receives them and those around them by being highly effective, safe methods of preventing communicable (infectious) diseases.
Respiratory hygiene
Watch this NHS video on YouTube, ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it: Stay Well This Winter’, to see how easily respiratory viruses can be passed from person to person.
Display signage around your setting to encourage the message:
‘Catch it, bin it, kill it.’
Ensure you have plenty of tissues in your setting.
Contacting the IPC Team
A dedicated team of IPC specialists, providing expert advice, support and education on the prevention and control of infection.
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm:
- Telephone: 0151 604 7750
- Email: [email protected]
Online referral form – the easy to use form can be used to access support from the IPC Service. If your organisation or setting requires non urgent help and/or assistance please complete the online referral form.
For more information about the team visit Meet the team.
IPC Digital Hub
The IPC Digital Hub is a one stop shop for all things IPC! The team has made it easier for people to access a wealth of information, training, and guidance.
From online tools, resources, newsletters and an electronic referral form to comprehensive training packages, an e-leaflet library, videos and localised campaign materials, the digital hub has everything you need.
The hub includes a wealth of information, guidance and resources and finding what you need has never been easier. With the click of a button, you can quickly access the support you need based on your place of work:
You can visit the ‘IPC topic’ area and find the topics you are looking for by entering a key word and clicking on the search icon or you can filter by category and click ‘filter results.’
Categories include:
- Care home settings
- Early years and education
- General practice
- Other adult social care settings
- Training and resources
- Training and resources
IPC related resources can also be found in the resource library. Here you will find everything you need from posters, leaflets, easy read literature and presentations to certificates and pathways.
The campaign area is packed with all you need to know about key annual IPC campaigns and news from the service.
Campaigns include:
- World Hand Hygiene Day
- World Sepsis Day
- Antimicrobial Awareness Week
- International Infection Prevention Week
The easy to use online referral form can be used to access support from the IPC Service.
If your organisation or setting requires non urgent help and/or assistance please complete the electronic referral form.
Visit the hub – www.wchc.nhs.uk/ipchub
IPC X account
Stay connected and up to date with all things IPC by following our dedicated X (Twitter) feed. The team will be sharing the latest news, resources, updates to the IPC Digital Hub, training opportunities and much more.
You can follow the service on X by searching @wchc_ipc
