Infection Control Nurse

Job Responsibilities:Management of Patient Care Personnel:

1. Supervises the maintenance of the established protocols for infection prevention e.g. isolation procedures, hand washing techniques used, the use of hand rub, change of IV set, change of central line dressing, availability of supplies, terminal cleaning of a unit, evaluation of equipment etc. in the hospital.
2. Corrects and teaches staff whenever the need arises during rounds. eg unnecessary use of gloves, improper handling of equipment, practice of aseptic precautions etc.
3. Participates in the formal teaching programmes during the orientation of new staff.
4. The staff should be informed about the steps to be taken in case of an accidental needle stick injury and the availability of hepatitis vaccination.
5. Tracks down the source of an organism such as in the case of an outbreak of salmonella or MRSA infections.

6. This includes environmental and personnel monitoring when appropriate

• Recollection of specimens from high-risk areas of personnel.
• The follow up of contents and carriers.

7. Carries out surveillance through regular contact with all hospital departments, particularly those providing patient care.

• Collects data-pertaining to c/s reports from microbiology department every day.

8. During ward rounds, should collect data related to dates and details

• Admission from home, nursing home etc.
• Surgery
• Culture sample and reports
• Invasive procedures

9. Keeps track of all patient with

• Intravascular catheters
• Urinary catheters
• Medical/surgical wounds
• Instrumentation of respiratory tract (ET tubes, tracheotomy tubes)

 10. The microbiology department in turn maintains patient wise, department wise and data wise record of the culture and sensitivity reports. Following data is then analyzed and interpreted together with the microbiologistThus able to establish:An antibiotic susceptibility patternThe rate of infection and the number of isolates grownIntravenous line related infectionsWound sepsis ratesUrinary tract infection rates andRespiratory tract infection rates     11. Some of the information is then disseminated immediately, so that the required precaution may be taken to prevent the spread of infection.    12. Co-ordinates between different departments and the hospital and public health departmentFollowing are the day-to-day tasks of an ICN:

• Identifying as promptly as possible infection hazards in patients staff or equipment.
• Compiling records of infected patients from ward notifications, case notes, laboratory reports and information collected in routine visits and discussions.
• Arranging for prompt isolation of infected patients in accordance with hospital policy in co-operation with the consultant and ward sister.
• Checking by inspection that infection control and aseptic procedures are being carried out in accordance with the hospital policy.
• Liaison between lab and ward staff, informing heads of department and giving advice on medical, nursing, domestic, catering and other grades of staff, ensuring clearance specimens are taken before infected staff returns to duty.
• Prompt information of notifiable disease to medical officer for health in writing/by telephone.
• Informing other hospitals, general practitioners and others concerned when infected patients are discharged from hospital or transferred elsewhere and receiving relevant information from other hospitals or community where appropriate.
• Participation in teaching and practical demonstration of control of infection techniques to all categories of staff.
• Informing the administration (chief of nursing/nursing superintendent) of practical problems and difficulties in carrying out routine procedures related to infection control.
• Attending relevant committee meetings, seminars, workshops or infection control update the knowledge.
• Conferring with the sterile supply manager about certain infections in the       hospital.