Responsibilities in Infection Control Committee

 

Responsibilities in Infection Control Committee

a)    Chairman

                       Approves the nominated chairperson and member of the Infection Control Committee

            Appoints a representative of Hospital management to be a member of the infection Control Committee.

              Authorizes the Infection Control Committee to institute appropriate control measures and/or studies.

                        Encourages the participants of Hospital staff in the Infection Control Program

b)    Departments, Divisions, Units and Services

 Develop, review, revise and propose infection control policies and procedures specific to their functions, in consultation with the Microbiologist.

    Submit proposed infection control policies to the Microbiologist for
review, comment and approval by the Infection control Committee.

   Address preventive methods, which pertain to their function.

   Implement infection control policies and procedures within their area of responsibility.

   Ensures that their personnel adhere to the Hospital Employee Health Program.

   Inform the Microbiologist of any potential or identified infection control problems.

 Provide infection control in-service education to their personnel in conjunction with the Microbiologist and Infection Control Nurse.

c)     Infection Control Committee Representatives:

 Provide personnel in their area with infection control activity reports in order to ensure staff awareness to current problems.

d)    Infection Control Officer (ICO):

    Serves as a permanent core member of the Infection Control Committee.

   Coordinates the field-wide implementation of the Hospital Infection Control Program.

 Supervises the accurate collection of infection control data and participation in the analysis of the data; prepares summary report for the Infection Control Committee.

Informs Hospital staff of new developments in infection control and acts as a professional resource regarding state-of-the-art development.

Conducts prospective prevalence studies periodically to evaluate the effectiveness of the surveillance system.

Serves on or consults with committee in-charge of evaluating procedures or equipment, which has an impact on infection control activities.

Coordinates and assists with employee orientation and in-service education program related to infection control.

Collaborates with all departments in the development, review and revision of infection control manual.

 Acts as a consultant regarding infection control issues.

e)    Nursing Staff

Adhere to the Infection Control policies and procedures.

Know the nursing functions essential to the prevention, recognition and management of infection.

Adhere to measures of Infection Control, including hand washing and isolation techniques.

Report any signs of infection to the attending physician/surgeon and record the findings in the nurse's notes.

Alert Infection Control nurse of suspected or confirmed infections.

Institute isolation or precautionary measures when an infectious disease is suspected; inform the attending physician/surgeon as soon as possible.

Participate, in orientation and continuing education programs for infection control.

f)      Clinical Laboratory

Provide laboratory support for infection control activities.

Provide environmental evaluation of medical facilities and operations in co-operation with Infection Control.