IPC4.2012 Minimise the risk of spreading infection by cleaning, disinfection and storing care equipment

Overview

This standard concerns the routine cleaning, disinfection and storage of re-usable non-invasive care equipment to minimise the risk of spreading infection. All staff in health and social care environments should receive training in cleaning, with or without disinfection of the care equipment they use but it should be clear who is responsible for this within each area or care setting. Cleaning and disinfecting are the terms that are used in this standard however in some areas the term ‘decontamination’ is used. ‘Decontamination’ is an umbrella term which incorporates cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising as appropriate. This standard covers activity in all health and social care environments, including community and domiciliary settings, and ambulance vehicles/stations, but excluding specialised settings, such as laboratories, pharmacies, or operating theatres, where more specialised methods may be required. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version 2

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. relevant standard infection prevention and control precautions, national legislation/guidance and local policies/procedures
2. health and safety regulations covering your area of work
3. regulations and guidance concerning hazardous substances
4. the chain of infection
5. how to access facilities for hand hygiene
6. effective techniques for maintaining hand hygiene
7. the appropriate personal protective equipment to use when cleaning, with or without disinfecting, equipment
8. how to safely put on, remove and dispose of personal protective equipment
9. who is responsible for cleaning, with or without disinfecting, equipment
10. equipment cleaning schedules and other occasions when cleaning, with or without disinfection, should be carried out
11. the uses, dilutions, methods of application, storage and disposal of cleaning, and disinfectant products
12. how to distinguish between single-use, single-patient use and reusable equipment and/or personal protective equipment and how to dispose, launder, clean, disinfect and store them safely
13. your individual role and responsibilities and the responsibilities of others
14. how to complete the records required in your area of activity
15. how and when to report issues that are within and outside your scope of practice

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. apply appropriate working practices to maintain a tidy, clutter free environment to limit opportunities for microorganisms to spread and contaminate equipment
2. undertake cleaning, with or without disinfection, in accordance with local and national policies/procedures
3. perform effective hand hygiene before and on completion of the activity in accordance with local and national policy/procedures
4. inspect the care equipment before use, and ensure it is clean
5. assess what cleaning, with or without disinfection, is required, and choose the appropriate agent and equipment
6. gather the cleaning, and if required disinfection, agent and equipment and put on the appropriate personal protective equipment before commencing
7. clean, with or without disinfection, the care equipment according to the type of equipment, manufacturer's instructions, and local policy/procedures
8. assess the state of repair of care equipment during cleaning and disinfection, remove any equipment immediately that is not fit for use in accordance with local policy, and report and replace any item that is damaged
9. ensure care equipment is stored in a clean, designated place in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and local and national policies/procedures
10. discard single use, and single-patient use equipment and personal protective equipment in accordance with local policy
11. return cleaning and disinfection agents to safe storage, following regulations and guidance concerning hazardous substances, health and safety guidance and the manufacturer's instructions
12. ensure your cleaning and disinfection equipment is clean, fit for purpose, appropriately colour coded, in a good state of repair, and is stored in a clean, dry, designated place
13. discard disposable equipment in accordance with local policy
14. should you encounter problems with the facilities and supplies for cleaning and disinfection equipment, that you are unable to remedy, inform the person responsible for them and ask them to take action

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (2004): Dimension: Core 3 Health, Safety and Security