The epic project:developing national evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare association infections phase 1: guidelines for preventing hospital-acquired infections | National Resource for Infection Control (NRIC)

The epic project:developing national evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare association infections phase 1: guidelines for preventing hospital-acquired infections

Best practice, Care guideline, Systematic review
Abstract: 
These multi-professional guidelines, commissioned by the Department of Health, have been developed after a systematic and expert review of all of the available scientific evidence. They cover many elements of clinical practice that are an essential part of action to prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infection, including multi-drug resistant organisms. These guidelines provide sound and clear statements of evidence-based good practice which can be adapted for use locally by all health care practitioners. They also provide a useful tool for clinical governance and audit purposes. The report provides guidance on infection prevention and control precautions that should be applied by healthcare staff while caring for all patients in the hospital environment. The recommendations are divided into four interventions: - Intervention 1: Standard principles for hospital environmental hygiene - Intervention 2: Standard principles for hand hygiene - Intervention 3: Standard principles for the use of personal protective equipment - Intervention 4: Standard principles for the safe use and disposal of sharps The recommendations are not detailed practice protocols and therefore should be incorporated into local infection control policies/guidelines.
Authors: 
Pratt RJ,a Pellowe C,a Loveday HP,a Robinson N,a Smith GW,b and the epic guideline development team: Barrett S,c Davey P,d Harper P,a Loveday C,e McDougall C,f Mulhall A,g Privett S,h Smales C,a Taylor L,i Weller B,g and Wilcox Mj
Category: 
Control
Epidemiology
Investigation
Prevention

Expert Review

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Summary:
The report provides guidance on infection prevention and control precautions that should be applied by healthcare staff while caring for all patients in the hospital environment. The recommendations are divided into four interventions: -Intervention 1: Standard principles for hospital environmental hygieneIntervention 2: Standard principles for for hand hygieneIntervention 3: Standard principles for the use of personal protective equipmentIntervention 4: Standard principles for the safe use and disposal of sharpsThe recommendations are not detailed practice protocols and therefore should be incorporated into local infection control policies/guidelines
Questions Addressed:
The guidelines were developed from a systematic review of the evidence available to prevent healthcare associated infection and therefore provide that evidence to inform local policy and guideline development for standard infection control precautions
Type of Study:
Systematic review
Methods Valid:
Yes
Methods Valid Detail:

The guidance has been updated following a further review of evidence and new technology but a critical assessment of the updated evidence indicates that the guidance remains robust, relevant and appropriate

Results Reliability:
The guidance was developed using a systematic review and then critical appraisal for each intervention, grading using categories described by Eccles and mason (2001) to define the strength of recommendations
Problems or Biases:

This original report does not include guidance on infection prevention and control when using urinary catheters/central venous lines. This has been addressed in the updated report

Relevant Studies:

1. The epic project: Updating the evidence-base for national evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare associated infections in the NHS hospitals in England: a report with recommendations. Pellow CM, Pratt RJ, Loveday HP, Robinson N, Jones SRLJ, British journal of Infection Control, December 2004, Vol5, No 62. Infection Control: Prevention of healthcare associated infection in Primary and Community Care. Pellow CM, Pratt RJ, Harper P, loveday HP, Robinson N, Jones S, MacRae ED and the Guideline Development Group (2003) Journal of Hospital Infection 55(Supplement 2): 1-127

Keywords:
healthcare associated infection infection prevention and control evidence based guidelines environment hand hygiene personal protective eqiupment sharps
Reviewer Name:
Sue Wiseman
Reviewer Post:
Nurse Consultant, Department of Health/CeRC
Reviewer Affiliations:
Associate member HIS