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Audits in Infection Control

The document discusses auditing infection control practices in healthcare facilities. It defines an infection control audit and outlines the audit process, including preparing audit tools, assessing policies and practices, conducting observations, reporting findings, and following up on recommendations. The goal of audits is to objectively identify areas for improving infection control and patient safety.

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871 views

Audits in Infection Control

The document discusses auditing infection control practices in healthcare facilities. It defines an infection control audit and outlines the audit process, including preparing audit tools, assessing policies and practices, conducting observations, reporting findings, and following up on recommendations. The goal of audits is to objectively identify areas for improving infection control and patient safety.

Uploaded by

shaheenasifsamnani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Audit in Infection Control

INFECTION CONTROL NURSE


TABBA HEART INSTITUTE
Introduction
 Objectives of this presentation
 Define an infection control audit
 Describe the audit process
 Prepare the audit report
The Infection Control Audit
 Compliance with infection control policies
and procedures is the overall objective
 A well constructed audit tool and process
will permit objective measures of infection
control practice
 Audit process identifies areas for
improvement
Why Infection Control Is Ideal for
Audits
 Focus on patient and healthcare worker
safety
 Standards are available to measure quality
of care
 Ability to document change and
improvement in practice over time
What It Means
 Practical and objective way to determine
compliance
 Check actual practice against known standards
and guidelines
 Identify risks of infections and unsafe practices
for both patients and staff
 Communicate areas for improvement objectively
 Clearly outline action plans and responsibilities
for implementation
Audits
To be effective, audits must:
 Define the topic or area
 Outline the appropriate practice standards
 Observe and test against the selected standard
 Identify areas for improvement
 Implement change
 Demonstrate improvement in practice
Audit Tools
 Templates to evaluate implementation of
practice
 Tools should be validated and items should be
scored (measurable)
 Examples
1. Hand hygiene audits
2. Review of CVP insertion and maintenance
3. Wound care
Audits
 Key elements when auditing include
Assessment of the physical plant
(including traffic flow)
 Review of policies, protocols, and
procedures
 Assessment of workplace practices
 Assessment of health care worker
knowledge and attitudes
 Should be flexible and reflect the service
audited
Involvement and Preparation
of the Clinical Team
 Critical to ensure participation
 Important for HCWs to understand this is a
collaborative process, not a punitive process
 Pre-audit meetings essential
 Explain
 Agree on goals and objectives
 How audit will be conducted
 How results will be reported
 Audit team formed and key decision makers involved
Assessment of Policy and
Procedure
 Review each unit manual against a known set
of standards
 Example - review of the operating room
includes comparison to Operating Room
 Nurses’ standards
 Manuals should be clear, policies dated,
and accessible to staff
The Physical Plant
 Review includes
 Layout - with emphasis on soiled and
clean utility rooms, patient and procedure
rooms, equipment.
 Assessment of traffic flow, air handling
systems, sinks, level of cleanliness
Workplace Practice Review
 Repeated observations of the infection control
practices of all staff
 Use a standardized form
 Includes hand hygiene observations, selection
and use of barrier protection, decontamination of body
fluids spills,
 correct use of isolation protocols, specimen
handling, and specific care procedures
(e.g., urinary catheter care, skin & wound care)
 An investment in time!
Knowledge Assessment
 A questionnaire to assess knowledge of safe
infection control practices
 Anonymous
 Demographic information only to identify the
professions and amount of past training/education
Should reflect Self-perceived knowledge
 Actual knowledge
 Knowledge in practice
 Measurable items that can be scored or ranked
The Audit Report
 Draft report written and reviewed by key staff
 prior to final version and distribution
 Allow opportunities to correct misperceptions
and add additional comments by staff
 Prepare executive summary
 Clearly outlined with introduction, objectives,
methodology, results and recommendations and
timelines
Example:
 Hand hygiene audit tool :
Remember
 The audit is meant to be a positive event
 Acknowledge and thank staff for their
participation and support
 Overall goal is to promote good practice,
improve patient care, and ensure HCW
 safety – i.e., a healthier work environment
for all
 Don’t forget to follow-up on all
recommendations!
In Summary
 Audits are consistent processes for reviewing
infection prevention and control policy and
practice
 Good audit tools make the assessment as
objective as possible
 Ultimate goal is to ensure a safe healthcare
environment for patients, staff, and the public
Key Points
 Non-compliance with appropriate infection
prevention and control policies and
procedures may lead to outbreaks of
infection
 A well-constructed audit tool will provide
consistent benchmarking across the facility
 Audits can help improve quality, infection
prevention practices, and patient safety
ANY ????
References and Further Reading
 Millward S, Barnett J, Tomlinson D. A clinical infection
 control audit programme. J Hosp Infect 1993; 24: 219-
 232
 Bryce EA, Scharf SL, Walker MM. Infection control
 practitioner audit form for patient/resident service units.
 Canadian J Infect Control 2002; 17:23-26
 Infection Control Nurses Association (ICNA),
Department
 of Health UK, Audit tools for monitoring infection control
 standards, 2004
 © IFIC:2008

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