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Nursing Home Infection Control and Prevention Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing infection control and prevention practices in nursing homes, covering areas such as hand hygiene, PPE usage, environmental cleaning, and staff training to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.

Nursing Home Infection Control and Prevention Audit Checklist
by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

Effective infection control and prevention practices are critical in nursing homes to protect vulnerable residents from healthcare-associated infections. This comprehensive audit checklist is designed to evaluate and improve infection control measures in long-term care facilities. By addressing key areas such as hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, environmental cleaning, and staff training, this checklist helps identify potential risks and ensures compliance with infection control standards. Regular audits using this checklist can significantly reduce the spread of infections, enhance resident safety, and promote a culture of cleanliness and prevention in nursing homes.

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Industry

Healthcare

Standard

CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Long-Term Care Facilities

Workspaces

Nursing homes

Occupations

Infection Preventionists
Registered Nurses
Environmental Services Managers
Nursing Home Administrators
Quality Assurance Specialists

Infection Control Practices

(0 / 4)

1
Have all staff members received adequate training on infection control procedures?

Provide details on training received.

Training is essential for staff to understand and implement infection control protocols effectively.
2
Is the environmental cleaning being conducted as per the guidelines?

Indicate if cleaning frequency is adequate.

To ensure that the facility is maintaining a clean and safe environment for residents.
3
Is appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) being utilized by the staff?

Select PPE usage status.

To assess the adherence to PPE guidelines for infection prevention.
4
Are staff members observed to be compliant with hand hygiene protocols?

Select compliance level.

To ensure that hand hygiene practices are being followed to prevent infections.
5
Is there a feedback mechanism in place for residents to report concerns about infection control?

Indicate if a feedback mechanism exists.

A feedback mechanism enables residents to voice their concerns, which can lead to improvements in care.
6
How many hours of training on infection control have staff members received in the last year?

Enter total hours of training.

Regular training ensures that staff are knowledgeable about the latest infection control practices.
Min: 0
Target: 12
Max: 100
7
What isolation procedures are in place for residents diagnosed with infections?

Describe the isolation protocols.

Effective isolation procedures are critical to prevent the spread of infections.
8
Are residents routinely screened for signs of infections upon admission and during their stay?

Select screening compliance level.

Early detection of infections is crucial for timely intervention and protecting other residents.
9
What percentage of antibiotic prescriptions are considered appropriate based on guidelines?

Enter the percentage of appropriate antibiotic use.

Tracking appropriate use helps evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship efforts.
Min: 0
Target: 80
Max: 100
10
How are antibiotic resistance patterns monitored within the facility?

Provide details on monitoring processes.

Monitoring resistance patterns is essential for guiding appropriate antibiotic use.
11
Are staff members educated on antimicrobial stewardship principles?

Indicate if education is provided.

Education on stewardship helps staff understand the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.
12
Are antibiotic prescriptions regularly reviewed for appropriateness and necessity?

Select review compliance status.

Regular reviews help ensure antibiotics are prescribed only when necessary, reducing resistance.
13
How are vaccination records maintained for residents?

Describe the record-keeping process.

Proper record-keeping is essential for tracking vaccination status and scheduling future vaccinations.
14
What percentage of residents have received their vaccinations?

Enter the percentage of vaccinated residents.

Tracking vaccination rates helps to evaluate the success of immunization efforts.
Min: 0
Target: 90
Max: 100
15
Are staff trained on vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccination protocols?

Indicate if staff training is provided.

Staff education is essential to ensure they can inform residents and families about vaccinations.
16
Are residents up to date with their vaccinations as per guidelines?

Select vaccination compliance level.

Ensuring that residents are vaccinated helps prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

FAQs

Infection control audits should be conducted regularly, typically on a monthly or quarterly basis. However, more frequent audits may be necessary during outbreaks or when introducing new infection control protocols.

Key components include hand hygiene practices, proper use of PPE, environmental cleaning and disinfection, isolation precautions, antibiotic stewardship, staff training and competency, and surveillance of healthcare-associated infections.

Infection control audits should involve a multidisciplinary team, including infection preventionists, nursing staff, environmental services personnel, and facility administrators. Input from physicians and pharmacists may also be valuable for certain aspects of the audit.

Audit results can be used to identify areas for improvement, develop targeted staff education programs, update infection control policies and procedures, and implement new preventive measures. Regular follow-up audits can help track progress and ensure sustained improvements in infection control practices.

Resident and family education is an important aspect of infection control. Audits should assess the effectiveness of education programs on topics such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and the importance of vaccinations. This helps ensure that residents and their families are active participants in infection prevention efforts.

Benefits

Reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections among residents

Ensures compliance with infection control regulations and best practices

Improves staff awareness and adherence to infection prevention measures

Enhances overall quality of care and resident safety

Helps in early identification and mitigation of infection control risks