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

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.