Infection Control in NCCC

INFECTION CONTROL AND CABSI PREVENTION IN NCCC

Hand Hygiene  Individuals, who enter the NCCC and intend to touch an infant or items at the bedside, must perform a thorough hand wash at the sink inside the unit door. This hand wash must include hands, forearms up to the elbows, paying special attention to the nails.  Thereafter, hands should be washed with CHG and water when visibly soiled.  Hand hygiene is required between contact with patients. If hands appear visually clean, hand hygiene may be performed using bedside Purell foam pumps.  Each person is responsible to monitor the compliance of hand hygiene in the NCCC with all UNC employees, parents and visitors. Visitors  Visitors with signs of illness will be excluded from visiting NCCC patients. Mothers with post-partum fever, (>38 degrees C) will not be permitted to visit.  Children visiting in NCCC must be screened and approved for visiting by the patient’s nurse ( Children’s Visitation Policy ), designated by the screening sticker worn on the child’s clothing.  Visiting NCCC “graduates” will be visited by nursing staff, outside the doors of NCCC in the lobby area near the elevators.

Healthcare Workers (HCW)  Staff with signs of infectious illness may not work in NCCC, (e.g. conjunctivitis, oral herpes, fever and respiratory illness).  Occupational Health may clear staff to work with questionable signs of illness.  Clean scrubs are to be worn each shift.  Long sleeved tops, rings with stones, and watches are prohibited.  Fingernails of all clinical HCW’s should be no longer than the fingertip.  Only clear nail polish is allowed, to optimize visualization under nails when performing hand hygiene.  No artificial nails, tips, extenders or applications.  Hair is to be kept off the collar, never touching patient or patient equipment/supplies during care or treatment.

Eating and Drinking:  No eating or drinking in patient care areas.  Patient’s mothers are allowed covered drinks in pods.  Federal OSHA law prohibits staff from eating or drinking in any area that may pose a contamination with infectious material risk, such as the nursing station.

CABSI prevention:  Prevention of central line infections is a life-saving effort in out unit. Please watch the following video telling Gabby’s story: http://www.pqcnc.org/?q=node/12879  Remember hand-washing and sterile technique during line placement.  Complete the Central line insertion checklist when placing ALL central lines (ask staff for location).  Include “Access” as a problem in you daily progress note and monitor dressing integrity daily (ask if you are unsure about dressing integrity).

HOW TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL:  The Infection Control Professional for NCCC is: Elizabeth Walters, RN, pager 123-4904 or office number: 843-9343.  Infection Control questions can be answered by the Hospital Epidemiology Department, 966-1638.  After hours, on weekends and holidays, call the Infection Control Nurse on call, 218-2683.

Revised 6/2016 by SA