Organisations delivering health and social care should carry out routine audits of hand hygiene adherence that include glove use, according to new recommendations from nurses’ representatives.
New guidance, Raising the Bar, also calls for monitoring of infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, with monitoring by commissioners
The guidance suggests that there is confusion among nursing staff about the proper use of gloves and face coverings in IPC.
Indications for the use of face coverings, such as what type to use and when to wear them, and use of COVID-19 terminology, are said to be inconsistent, causing issues in the level of PPE provided to staff.
Rose Gallagher, RCN professional lead for infection prevention and control, said: “Now is the time to implement learning from the pandemic and ensure language is consistent in existing and new guidance.”
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