Written Infection Control Plan
The discovery of HIV in the 1980s had a significant impact on how healthcare services were delivered and led to the implementation of policies and procedures by agencies such as OSHA and the CDC to minimize the risk of exposure to infectious agents. These policies, known as universal precautions and body substance isolation, evolved into the current standard precautions.
Standard precautions, which include appropriate personal barriers, hand hygiene, disinfecting surfaces, sterilizing instruments, and disposing of infectious waste, apply to the care of all patients regardless of their diagnosis and are crucial in preventing the spread of disease in an audiology clinic.
To effectively prevent the spread of disease, it is important for audiology clinics to have a written infection control plan in place. This plan should include protocols for mode and route of transmission, as well as guidelines for personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and surfaces.
Implementing and adhering to a written infection control plan is crucial in protecting both patients and healthcare workers from the spread of infectious diseases in an audiology setting.
There are six required sections of the infection control plan. Your written infection control plan does not have to necessarily be in this exact order, but it must include these six required portions.
- Employee exposure classification
- Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination plan
- Plan for annual training and records
- Plan for accidents and accidental exposure follow‑up
- Implementation protocols
- Post‑exposure plans and records
infection control is a required element of for any clinical location where audiology services are provided. You need to create a written infection control plan with work practice controls that are unique to your clinic, and keep in mind, every location within a practice must have their own plan. Use standard precautions as your guide and integrate appropriate products to ensure that you are meeting the goals of the infection control plan. Implement the plan, and rely on resources to guide you.
For further information, refer to Dr. Bankaitis’ blog, www.aubankaitis.com, where you can find a section on infection control. The book, Infection Control in the Audiology Clinic, is available via Oaktree Products. Please feel free to email her at au@oaktreeproducts.com
