Perform Infection Control Audit – General using eAuditor
An Infection Control Audit – General is a systematic evaluation process used to assess how effectively an organization prevents, controls, and manages the spread of infections within its premises. It focuses on identifying risks, verifying compliance with hygiene protocols, and ensuring that infection prevention and control (IPC) measures meet both internal policies and external regulatory standards.
Performing an Infection Control Audit – General using eAuditor ensures a systematic and comprehensive assessment of infection prevention practices, hygiene protocols, and contamination control measures across all facility areas. It enables organizations to uphold high standards of cleanliness, safety, and compliance with local and international health regulations, while minimizing risks of infection transmission among staff, clients, and visitors.
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Purpose and Importance
An Infection Control Audit using eAuditor helps organizations evaluate their existing infection prevention systems, identify gaps, and ensure consistent implementation of hygiene protocols. It supports compliance with infection control policies, improves environmental health, and ensures readiness for inspections from regulatory authorities.
The audit’s purpose is to verify that all infection prevention and control (IPC) practices—such as disinfection, PPE usage, waste management, and hand hygiene—are being executed correctly. eAuditor’s digital approach ensures accuracy, accountability, and real-time visibility into infection control performance.
Key benefits include:
- Maintaining a safe and hygienic environment.
- Preventing disease outbreaks and cross-contamination.
- Strengthening compliance with public health and occupational safety standards.
- Providing digital traceability and automated reporting for audit readiness.
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Scope of Inspection
The Infection Control Audit – General covers all operational areas where infection prevention is critical. This includes:
- Hand Hygiene:
- Assess the availability and accessibility of handwashing stations and sanitizers.
- Observe staff adherence to the “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene.”
- Verify signage, soap, and paper towel supplies.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Confirm proper selection and correct usage of gloves, masks, aprons, and face shields.
- Check storage, disposal methods, and replacement protocols.
- Cleaning and Disinfection:
- Inspect cleaning frequency schedules and ensure use of approved disinfectants.
- Verify cleaning staff’s adherence to color-coded cleaning systems to avoid cross-contamination.
- Waste Management:
- Check segregation of clinical and general waste using color-coded bins.
- Verify timely disposal, correct labeling, and use of personal protective gear during waste handling.
- Laundry and Linen Handling:
- Ensure contaminated linen is handled separately and cleaned at appropriate temperatures.
- Confirm the use of sealed transport bags and hygienic storage.
- Sterilization of Equipment:
- Review sterilization logs and ensure that sterilizers are functioning correctly.
- Confirm single-use items are discarded after use.
- Environmental Hygiene:
- Assess ventilation systems, air filters, and the cleanliness of high-touch surfaces.
- Inspect restrooms, kitchens, and shared areas for hygiene compliance.
- Infection Surveillance and Reporting:
- Ensure incident reporting mechanisms are active for infection-related cases.
- Review infection trend data and corrective actions taken.
- Training and Staff Awareness:
- Confirm that all staff receive periodic infection control training.
- Verify display of infection prevention posters and protocols in visible areas.
- Record-Keeping and Documentation:
- Check for up-to-date logs, cleaning records, and audit documentation.
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Digital Workflow Using eAuditor
3.1. Checklist Setup
- Create or customize a General Infection Control Audit Checklist in eAuditor that includes all IPC components relevant to the facility.
- Add predefined response fields such as Compliant/Non-Compliant, Yes/No, or Needs Attention.
- Integrate image and comment fields for visual verification of observations.
- Assign risk categories (e.g., High, Medium, Low) to prioritize corrective actions.
3.2. Conducting the Audit
- Inspectors use mobile or tablet devices to perform on-site checks in real time.
- Record findings instantly with photos, comments, and GPS-tagged evidence.
- Use eAuditor’s Actions feature to assign corrective tasks to responsible staff members with due dates.
- Record inspector names, time stamps, and area details for transparency.
3.3. Post-Audit Follow-Up
- Generate automatic digital reports summarizing compliance levels and key risks.
- Share reports immediately with infection control teams or management for review.
- Use trend analytics to identify recurring non-compliance issues.
- Schedule follow-up inspections and corrective audits within the app.
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Key Evaluation Criteria
During an Infection Control Audit, the following criteria are examined to ensure consistent compliance and safety:
- Hygiene Compliance: Level of adherence to cleaning and disinfection protocols.
- PPE Utilization: Correct use, replacement, and disposal of personal protective equipment.
- Surface Cleanliness: Regular cleaning of high-touch points and shared surfaces.
- Hand Hygiene Practices: Compliance rate among staff and visitors.
- Waste Handling: Proper segregation and disposal to minimize contamination.
- Staff Training: Level of knowledge and awareness on infection control procedures.
- Ventilation & Air Quality: Regular maintenance of HVAC and ventilation systems.
- Incident Management: Timeliness and completeness of infection-related reports.
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Reporting and Continuous Improvement
Using eAuditor’s real-time dashboard, audit data is transformed into actionable insights.
- Automated Reports: Summarize audit scores, images, and corrective actions.
- Performance Tracking: Visualize compliance rates by department or shift.
- Root Cause Analysis: Identify underlying issues leading to infection risks.
- Trend Analysis: Detect recurring patterns such as inadequate PPE usage or poor waste segregation.
- Continuous Improvement: Use data insights to refine infection control protocols, training, and cleaning schedules.
This process ensures an evidence-based approach to infection control management and allows for ongoing monitoring and improvement over time.
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Integration and Automation
To enhance workflow efficiency, eAuditor can be integrated with facility management systems or compliance software:
- Automatically schedule periodic infection control audits.
- Link corrective actions with staff performance records.
- Generate automated notifications for overdue corrective tasks.
- Store and retrieve all records securely for compliance verification.
This digital integration fosters efficiency, consistency, and accountability across all infection control activities.
Summary
Performing Infection Control Audit – General using eAuditor provides a structured, digitalized, and data-driven approach to infection prevention and hygiene management. It enables organizations to systematically assess hand hygiene, PPE compliance, cleaning standards, and environmental safety through real-time documentation and reporting.
The use of eAuditor enhances visibility, streamlines corrective actions, and supports continuous improvement in infection prevention strategies. Through routine digital auditing, organizations can maintain a hygienic and compliant environment, reduce infection risks, and safeguard the health of staff, clients, and visitors across all operational areas.