Nursing Home Infection Control and Prevention Audit Checklist

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.