Infection Prevention and Control :: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust take preventing and controlling infections seriously. Therefore, it’s important to us that we protect you and your family from getting an infection during your stay in our hospitals.

We work hard to prevent, monitor, and control the spread of infections, we do this by:

Ensuring all our clinical staff are trained to wash their hands effectively using a specific technique to ensure they don’t miss any areas accidentally
Ensuring antibiotics are prescribed appropriately as overuse can cause resistance and make infections difficult to treat in the future
Ensuring that wards and clinics are cleaned thoroughly and checked against national standards
Ensuring staff are educated on infection prevention and control principles
Monitoring infection rates and acting quickly when infections are identified to prevent spread

Regularly washing your hands, it is possible to pick up bugs on the hands which may cause infections. Hand washing is particularly important before eating and after using the toilet. Using soap and water is recommended if hands are visibly dirty or if you have been suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting
Challenge the staff if you don’t think they have washed their hands
Inform a member of staff if you have been experiencing symptoms of diarrhoea/ vomiting or cold/flu like symptoms
We may ask you to spend a period in your bedspace if you have an infection to prevent further spread to others- this is called “isolation”
We may ask you to spend time in specific areas of the ward environment with others that may also have the same infection as you to prevent further spread - this is called “co-horting”
Ensuring you are up to date with seasonal vaccines if you are eligible to receive them, such as, Influenza / COVID-19

You can help us by paying particular attention to washing your hands before and after visiting the hospital
Hand gel or hand sanitizer is available at entrances to wards for staff and visitors. In some areas this is not possible so staff may carry handheld gels or wipes are provided
Challenge the staff if you don’t think they have washed their hands
Please do not visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of cold/ flu- you should feel well and be recovered before you visit
Please do not visit the hospital if you have symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting - you should be 48 hours symptom free before you visit

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has a dedicated Infection prevention and Control Team who work across the Trust's footprint to:

Provide Specific Infection prevention and control education and training trust wide
Coordinating and implementing the annual infection prevention and control audit program
Support staff with specialist advice
Surveillance of specific healthcare associated infections, such as MRSA bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infection
Supporting staff with outbreaks of infection to prevent onward transmission
Conduct Post infection reviews to as certain future learning and share good practice
Working closely on issues related to cleanliness of environment and equipment with facilities management teams
Participating in evaluation of new technology and supporting national infection prevention and control collaborative projects

We are backing a campaign by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) aiming to encourage patients, service users and the general public into taking control of their community’s health by using antibiotics wisely.

The UKHSA believes the misuse and overuse of antibiotics is increasing the risk of bacteria becoming more resistant, which puts some of the most vulnerable members of society at risk of serious illness.

They claim bacteria is becoming resistant to medicines at an increasing rate, turning once-treatable infections into potentially life-threatening conditions. This growing crisis - known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - is deepening health inequalities across our society.

Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said: "Everyone can help us in this fight by only taking antibiotics if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. Do not save some for later or share them with friends and family. Treat antibiotics with respect and they will be there to help us all in the future.”

As part of their campaign they have issued a four-point plan which aims to better protect communities from the dangers of AMR:

Remember that antibiotics are ineffective against colds and flu. Your body can fight these infections on their own
Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional
Always complete the full course as directed by your healthcare professional
Never save antibiotics for later, or share them with anyone else.

The campaign is particularly aimed at those who live in deprived areas, with 42% of people living in those areas facing a higher risk of developing antibiotic-resistant infections.

Around 90% of antibiotic-resistant infections occur in white ethnic groups with Asian and Asian British communities experience the highest proportion of antibiotic resistant infections (nearly 40% of infections), while our declining ability to treat and prevent infections is having an increasing impact, particularly on our poorest communities, who are already more likely to face barriers in accessing healthcare.