Infection Control Compliance

An Infection Control Compliance Checklist is crucial for maintaining high standards of cleanliness, safety, and infection prevention in healthcare settings, schools, offices, or public facilities. Below is a comprehensive checklist that you can adapt based on your specific needs.

Infection Control Compliance Checklist

1. Hand Hygiene

• Ensure handwashing sinks are accessible in all key areas (restrooms, kitchens, patient rooms, etc.).
• Post clear hand hygiene protocols (posters) near sinks and handwashing stations.
• Ensure soap dispensers and hand sanitizers are fully stocked at all times.
• Implement alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol) in common areas.
• Monitor and record compliance with hand hygiene practices.

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Provide staff with necessary PPE (gloves, masks, gowns, face shields).
• Ensure PPE is readily available and appropriately stored.
• Educate staff on proper donning and doffing procedures for PPE.
• Conduct regular PPE compliance audits.
• Proper disposal of used PPE in designated waste bins.

3. Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

• Post signage promoting respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Ensure tissues and no-touch disposal containers are available in common areas.
• Provide surgical masks to individuals who are coughing or sneezing.

4. Cleaning and Disinfection

• Use EPA-approved disinfectants for cleaning.
• Ensure cleaning schedules for high-touch surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, countertops) are followed.
• Proper disinfection of patient rooms, exam rooms, and other care areas between uses.
• Regular cleaning of shared equipment (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, thermometers).
• Clean and disinfect restrooms and communal areas daily or more frequently as needed.

5. Waste Disposal

• Ensure proper disposal of medical waste (e.g., needles, used PPE) in clearly labeled containers.
• Ensure that waste bins are emptied regularly.
• Biohazard bags and containers must be available and used for contaminated items.

6. Safe Injection Practices

• Use only single-dose vials and never reuse syringes or needles.
• Ensure proper storage and disposal of sharps.
• Train staff on proper injection safety and needle disposal practices.

7. Sterilization and Disinfection of Equipment

• Proper sterilization of reusable medical equipment.
• Ensure autoclaves and other sterilization equipment are functioning correctly and regularly maintained.
• Maintain records of sterilization cycles and equipment maintenance.

8. Isolation Precautions

• Ensure protocols are in place for identifying and isolating infectious patients.
• Appropriate signage and barriers (e.g., curtains) for isolation areas.
• Ensure isolation rooms are properly equipped (negative pressure rooms if applicable).
• Provide staff training on isolation procedures and PPE use for infectious cases.

9. Training and Education

• Regularly educate staff on infection control policies and updates.
• Conduct annual competency assessments for infection control practices.
• Provide ongoing education on emerging infections (e.g., COVID-19, MRSA, C. diff).

10. Documentation and Reporting

• Keep detailed records of infection control training, audits, and compliance.
• Ensure a system is in place for reporting and tracking healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
• Document corrective actions for any identified non-compliance.

11. Ventilation and Air Quality

• Ensure proper ventilation in patient care areas.
• Regularly inspect and clean HVAC systems to ensure proper air filtration.
• Install air purifiers if necessary, especially in high-risk areas.

12. Monitoring and Auditing

• Conduct routine infection control audits (weekly/monthly).
• Track key infection control metrics (e.g., hand hygiene compliance rates, PPE usage).
• Conduct random spot checks for compliance.
• Review infection data and trends to identify areas for improvement.

This checklist is adaptable to the specific needs of your environment, and it can be expanded based on local infection control guidelines or specialized settings (e.g., hospitals, dental clinics, long-term care facilities). Regular review and updating of the checklist are essential to stay in compliance with current health regulations.

Here’s how you can use eAuditor Audits & Inspections for Infection Control Compliance:

1. Create Custom Checklists for Infection Control

• Templates: Use pre-existing infection control checklists or create your own. Include areas like hand hygiene, PPE usage, cleaning protocols, disinfection procedures, and waste management.
• Checkpoints: Ensure your checklist covers all infection control aspects, such as:
  • Sterilization of medical instruments
  • PPE stock levels and usage
  • Proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces
  • Hand hygiene compliance (e.g., proper handwashing techniques, availability of sanitizers)
  • Isolation procedures for contagious patients
  • Waste segregation and disposal

2. Perform Regular Inspections

• Mobile Auditing: Inspectors can use mobile devices to conduct audits on-site. eAuditor Audits & Inspections allows staff to take pictures, write notes, and assign corrective actions directly during the inspection.
• Real-Time Data Collection: Audit results are instantly uploaded, providing immediate access to data and ensuring timely identification of any infection control breaches.

3. Track and Assign Corrective Actions

• Issue Tracking: When non-compliance is found, you can assign corrective actions to responsible personnel. The platform tracks the issue, who it’s assigned to, and its completion status.
• Follow-Up: Schedule follow-up inspections or track corrective actions to ensure resolution and ongoing compliance.

4. Monitor Trends and Generate Reports

• Data Analysis: Use eAuditor Audits & Inspections’s analytics tools to monitor infection control trends over time. Identify recurring issues and focus on areas that need improvement.
• Automated Reporting: Generate detailed reports and share them with management or regulators. These reports can include inspection scores, photos, and corrective action statuses, helping to maintain transparency.

5. Ensure Compliance with Standards

• Adherence to Guidelines: Make sure your audits are aligned with standards like the CDC, WHO, or local health regulations. Keep your checklists up to date with the latest guidelines and recommendations.
• Standardization: eAuditor Audits & Inspections allows you to standardize audits across multiple facilities, ensuring that infection control practices are uniform and consistent.

6. Training and Documentation

• Training: Use the data from eAuditor Audits & Inspections to identify training needs. For example, if hand hygiene compliance is low, organize refresher training for staff.
• Documentation: Keep detailed records of all infection control audits and corrective actions. These records can be crucial during regulatory inspections or internal audits.

By using eAuditor Audits & Inspections, healthcare facilities can streamline their infection control processes, ensuring a safer environment for both patients and staff while maintaining compliance with health and safety standards.