Infection prevention and control

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Service contact information

• 0151 556 3601
• wcft.infectioncontrolteam@nhs.net

Service detail

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team

The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team are a group of specialist nurses who provide advice and support on all matters relating to infection prevention and control.

The team's aim is to minimise the risks of infection to all patients who receive care or treatment or have contact with The Walton Centre's services.

To ensure the possibility of infection is reduced, there are a number of methods the Trust has in place, including:

• A clean and tidy environment
• Making sure equipment is clean
• Screening for MRSA and CPE
• Education, training and information to staff, patients and visitors
• Regular monitoring of infections and incidents
• Monitoring standards
• Working together with local and national organisations to make sure our services are safe

Our staff can also protect you by washing their hands with soap and water or by using an alcohol gel. If a member of staff needs to examine you or perform a procedure, do not be afraid to ask if they have washed their hands.

Visitors

To protect vulnerable patients in our care from infection we ask that visitors:

• Do not come to the hospital if they have symptoms of COVID-19 e.g. cough, temperature or have been in close contact with someone who has symptoms or has had a positive COVID-19 test.
• Do not to come to the hospital if they have been unwell in the last 48 hours, especially with a cold, diarrhoea or vomiting. They must wait until they have been clear of symptoms for at least 48 hours before visiting.
• Wear a surgical mask and check their temperature on arrival to the hospital.
• Clean their hands either with soap and water or the alcohol gel provided at the ward entrances, before and after visiting.

Contact the person in charge before or on arrival to the ward/department if they are unsure if the person they are visiting has an infection.

Patient leaflets

Blood Stream Infection

A blood stream infection, also known as a bacteraemia, blood poisoning or septicaemia, is an infection caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream

Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE)

Enterobacteriaceae are bugs which can live in the gut of humans and animals

Hand hygiene

Most healthcare associated infections are preventable through good hand hygiene – cleaning hands at the right time and in the right way.

Infection prevention guidance for visitors

As visitors you play an important role in keeping the hospital free of infection by following these guidelines.

Monitoring Surgical Wounds for Infection

A surgical wound infection occurs when germs from our skin and the environment enter the incision that the surgeon makes through the skin in order to carry out the operation.

Preventing catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)

You have been given this leaflet because you have (or are due to have) a catheter placed in your bladder e.g., you are having an operation.

A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) occurs when germs (usually bacteria) enter the urinary tract through the urinary catheter and cause infection.

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Page last updated: 10 June 2021