Tackling healthcare-associated infections remains a top priority for our hospital. The measures we have put in place are having a real impact. They include:
An Infectious Disease Unit
Based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Grant Ward cares for patients with C. difficile and other infections such as hepatitis and meningitis. The spread of infection is reduced by all staff wearing scrubs, higher numbers of staff per patient, swipe-card-only access to regulate visitors to the ward and the provision of nearby staff showers.
New guidelines on the use of antibiotics
Inappropriate or overuse of certain antibiotics is one of the causes of some infections, including C. difficile. We have introduced new guidelines for the use of antibiotics on all hospital wards to help doctors make the right decisions about what to use and when.
Good hand hygiene
All staff should wash their hands and/or use the alcohol gel provided on all wards before and after contact with a patient. The gel kills about 99% of germs in around 30 seconds and dries naturally on the skin.
‘Bare below the elbow’ dress code for staff
To allow for good hand hygiene and to prevent the spread of infection, all doctors, nurses, midwives, health professionals and other healthcare workers visiting wards are asked not to wear long-sleeved jackets and shirts, ties, watches or jewellery (except plain wedding bands).
For more information see:
An Infectious Disease Unit
Clean Hands Campaign
Infection control patient information leaflets
Infection control documents
Please view the documentation below to find out more about infection control at BSUH NHS Trust.
