Call for infection control nurses
- Published: 05 August 2008 16:49
- Last Updated: 06 August 2008 11:47
- Reader Responses
The RCN has called for more infection control nurses to be recruited in order to help tackle the spread of healthcare-associated infections.
The college also said there needed to be support and clear authority for modern matrons to enable them to improve patient care, and stronger reporting mechanisms should be put in place to enable nurses to raise concerns about poor hygiene practices.
The call follows research, published last week, that found no single factor was enough by itself to control infections.
The study concluded that strong leadership, appropriate staffing levels and better management of staff workloads should be as important as hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness in the battle to reduce HCAIs.
The latest figures published by the Health Protection Agency last month suggest a continued decline in MRSA cases but show a seasonal rise in cases of Clostridium difficile.
