Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

CG139/1

Question

Standard principles of infection prevention and control:- What are the barriers to compliance with the standard principles of infection prevention and control that patients and carers experience in their own homes?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Recent changes to the delivery of healthcare mean that care is increasingly delivered within a patient's home environment. Infection prevention in this setting is just as important as in hospital. There are currently approximately 6 million unpaid carers in the UK, a number that is likely to increase with an aging population. The association between carer training and infection rates is unknown. No evidence of surveillance of healthcare-associated infections in the community is currently available in the UK. A qualitative study is needed to investigate the themes surrounding the barriers to patient and carer compliance with the standard principles of infection prevention in their own homes. It would be important to assess whether lack of awareness or knowledge is a barrier. If patients and carers have received education, this should be assessed to see if this was applicable to the patient's home setting. Areas of low compliance in the home environment need to be identified. The findings could have far-reaching implications for discharge planning and duty of care.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control in primary and community care

Number

CG139

Date issued

March 2012

Other details