Page 55 - CIJ JAN 2024 - Digital Edition

HealtHcare Hygiene

The overarching vision of the communications, and prioritizing practices by categorizing them as
GSIPC is to ensure that, by 2030, research and development. “essential practices”, underlining
everyone involved in healthcare The GSIPC is designed to be their importance for all HAI
— whether as a provider or an aspirational, strategic, and programs in acute-care hospitals.
recipient — is safeguarded programmatic initiative, to be These practices include
against associated infections. The complemented by an associated promoting the maintenance of
GSIPC delineates three principal action plan and monitoring healthy hand skin and fingernails,
objectives: preventing infection framework set to be developed in selecting appropriate products,
in healthcare, ensuring the 2023-2024. ensuring the accessibility
implementation of IPC programs, of hand hygiene supplies,
and coordinating IPC activities The Society for Healthcare ensuring proper glove use to
with other relevant sectors. These Epidemiology of America reduce contamination, taking
objectives are further supported (SHEA)/ Infectious Diseases steps to reduce environmental
by eight strategic directions Society of America (IDSA)/ contamination associated with
that serve as a comprehensive Association for Professionals sinks and sink drains, and
framework guiding country- in Infection Control (APIC) monitoring adherence to hand
specific actions for GSIPC Practice Recommendation hygiene. Timely and meaningful
implementation. These strategic published in February 2023 feedback is also highlighted as
directions include political also serves as a vital update to a a crucial component to enhance
commitment and policies, active previous set of recommendations a culture of safety within
IPC programs, IPC integration titled “Strategies to Prevent healthcare settings.
and coordination, knowledge Healthcare-Associated Infections
enhancement of health and care in Acute Care Hospitals through The 2023 update provides
workers in IPC, establishment Hand Hygiene,” which was “additional approaches” that
of career pathways for IPC initially published in 2014. The may be considered in specific
professionals, data utilization 2023 update emphasizes the locations or populations within
for action, advocacy and foundational nature of certain hospitals during outbreaks or
when HAIs are not controlled
despite implementing
essential practices. These
additional approaches include
considerations for educating
healthcare personnel (HCP)
using structured approaches
like the WHO Steps for hand
washing or hand sanitizing,
evaluating HCP adherence to
technique, disinfecting sink
drains for waterborne pathogens,
and encouraging specific hand
hygiene practices for certain
infections like Clostridioides
difficile and norovirus.
The document also delineates
practices that should not be
considered routine parts of
hand hygiene, emphasizing
that certain approaches may
not contribute positively to
infection prevention. These
include avoiding the supply of
individual pocket-sized alcohol-

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