Hospital Infection Control (HIC)

HIC1

HIC2

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Objective Elements

a.	The hospital infection prevention and control programme is documented which aims at preventing and reducing risk of healthcare associated infections in all areas of the hospital. Interpretation : The policies and procedures shall be directed at prevention and control of infection in all areas of the hospital and include its monitoring. The organisation shall have hospital associated infection prevention and control manual (HIC manual) that shall incorporate the structure of the program, all processes, activities and surveillance procedures related to the program. This shall be based on current scientific knowledge, guidelines from international/national and professional bodies and statutory requirements, wherever applicable. Reference documents could include WHO guidelines, CDC Guidelines and Manual for Control of Hospital Associated Infections, Standard Operative Procedures by NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
	Downloads HIC Policies for SHCO HIC Policies for BIG Hospitals HIC Policies for EYE Hospitals
	References WHO Guidelines for Hospital Associated Infections Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines by NACO WHO Practical Guidelines for Infection Control CDC Guidelines for Environment Infection Control in health-care facility
b.	The infection prevention and control programme is a continuous process and updated at least once in a year. Interpretation: The update shall be done based on newer literature on infection prevention and outbreak prevention mechanisms, infection trends and outcomes of the audit processes. Risk-reduction goals and measurable objectives are established by the committee at least annually and reviewed on a monthly basis by the infection control team.
c.	The hospital has a multi-disciplinary infection control committee, which coordinates all infection prevention and control activities. Interpretation: This shall preferably have Hospital Administrator, Microbiologist, Physician/Infection control specialist, Surgeon, Nursing Manager (Nursing Supervisor), staffs from CSSD and other support services and the hospital infection control nurse. It could also include invitees from various departments as deemed necessary. The committee shall lay down the policies and procedures to guide the implementation. The composition, frequency of meetings, the minimum quorum required and the minutes of the meeting shall be documented.
	Downloads Committees Committees include General/Specific Objectives, Constitution, Departure of appointment, Meetings and Scope & Function Minutes of meeting Circular List of participants Action Plan/Meetings
d.	The hospital has an infection control team, which coordinates implementation of all infection prevention and control activities. Interpretation: The team is responsible for day-to-day functioning of infection prevention and control programme. It shall support surveillance process and detect outbreaks. It shall also participate in audit activity and in infection prevention and control on a day-to-day basis. The team shall at least comprise of ICO, ICN(s) Infection control team staffed according to hospital size, the level of risk, and the program‘s complexity and scope. The committee and the team shall not be the same. However, the team shall be part of the committee.
	Downloads Suggestion : First use ICN Checklist 1. After 10/15 days shift to the new checklist. Write suitable conclusion after every 7/10 days and represent to Infection Control committee. ICN Checklist 1 ICN Checklist 2
e.	The hospital has designated infection control officer as part of the infection control team. Interpretation: This shall be a doctor, who is knowledgeable in infection control practices. It is preferable that he/she is a clinical microbiologist. In the absence of microbiologist a surgeon / physician can be designated as infection control officer. The responsibilities of the Infection control officer (ICO) are defined in the privileging document.
f.	The hospital has designated infection control nurse(s) as part of the infection control team. Interpretation: The criteria for designating shall be either by qualification (Registered Nurse) and based on training. The responsibilities of the ICN(s) are defined in the privileging document. It is preferable for them to have undergone a short-term training programme on infection prevention and control nursing.
	Downloads Sample ICN Appointment Letter Hospital Privileges for ICN ICN Job Description