Infection prevention and control

Structure

Evidence of local arrangements for people with a urinary catheter, vascular access device or enteral feeding tube, and their family members or carers (as appropriate), to be educated about the safe management of their device or equipment, including techniques to prevent infection.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, local protocols.

Process

Proportion of people with a urinary catheter, vascular access device or enteral feeding tube, and their family members or carers (as appropriate), who are educated about the safe management of their device or equipment, including techniques to prevent infection.

Numerator – the number of people in the denominator who are educated about the safe management of their device or equipment, including techniques to prevent infection.

Denominator – the number of people with a urinary catheter, vascular access device or enteral feeding tube, and their family members or carers (as appropriate).

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from patient records.

Outcome

a) Incidence of healthcare-associated infection.

Data source: 2020/21 NHS Outcomes Framework indicator 5.2 and 2020/21 CCG Outcomes Indicator Set indicators 5.3 and 5.4 measure incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile. Data are derived from UK Health Security Agency's mandatory reporting of healthcare-associated infections.

b) People with a urinary catheter, vascular access device or enteral feeding tube, and their family members or carers (as appropriate), feel able to manage their device or equipment.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from patient surveys to demonstrate that patients and carers have understood their education.

Urinary catheter

A urinary catheter is a catheter that is inserted in the urethra and remains in place until it is no longer needed. Both short-term (used for 28 days or less) and long-term (used for more than 28 days) urinary catheters are used. [Adapted from NICE's full guideline on healthcare-associated infections and epic3: National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England]

Vascular access device

A vascular access device is an indwelling catheter, cannula or other instrument used to obtain venous or arterial access. Both central and peripheral vascular access devices are available. [Adapted from NICE's full guideline on healthcare-associated infections and epic3: National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England, table 3]

Enteral feeding

Enteral feeding is feeding via a tube that can include any method of providing nutrition via the gastrointestinal tract. [NICE's full guideline on healthcare-associated infections]

Education about infection prevention and control

Education for people and their carers about infection prevention and control should always cover the techniques of hand decontamination. In addition, education should be provided as follows:

For people with a urinary catheter, education should cover insertion of intermittent catheters where applicable, how to manage the catheter and drainage system, how to minimise the risk of urinary tract infections and how to obtain additional supplies suitable for individual needs. [NICE's guideline on healthcare-associated infections, recommendation 1.2.1.1, and epic3: National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England, recommendation UC22]

For people with a vascular access device, education should cover any technique needed to prevent infection and safely manage the device. [NICE's guideline on healthcare-associated infections, recommendation 1.4.1.1, and epic3: National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England, recommendation IVAD3]

For people needing enteral feeding, education should cover techniques of feeding and management of the administration system. [NICE's guideline on healthcare-associated infections, recommendation 1.3.1.1]