Staffing and workload key factors in prevention of HCAIs
- Published: 30 July 2008 15:00
- Last Updated: 30 July 2008 15:01
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No single factor contributes to an increase in healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in NHS trusts, according to latest nurse research.
Nursing workload and staffing have to be given equal importance to tackle infection in hospitals, according to the review by the RCN and King's College's Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The review analysed published literature regarding organisational factors that impact on infections at ward level. It warns that the problem of HCAIs cannot be solved simply by identifying best infection practices and issuing guidelines – such practices must be 'implemented and embedded within supportive systems'.
RCN head of policy Howard Catton said: 'There has been a lot of attention put on individual factors. While this is right, there are also issues of leadership, staffing and workload – they form the triangle with patient safety and outcomes in the middle.'
