Infection control guidance published for care homes
BSIP, LECA/Science Photo Library
It is important that prescribers indicate duration of any antimicrobial
treatment |
Guidance from the Department of Health on controlling health care-associated infection in care homes has been published this week.
Sarah Garner, pharmacist, Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial
Resistance, was involved with the medicines management section of the
document, which includes information on managing antibiotic selection
and resistance, drug administration, adverse events and storage of medicines.
She told The Journal that the specific advice on antimicrobials complements
the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s “Guidance on the administration
and control of medicines in care homes and children’s services”,
which is being updated this year.
“Pharmacists can provide support and information to care homes
to enable them to manage their antimicrobial use appropriately and prevent
resistance,” said
Dr Garner.
“In particular, pharmacists can work with care homes to ensure
that the prescriber has supplied adequate details of the dose, frequency
of administration
and, importantly, the duration of treatment,” she added.
The document also contains information about hand hygiene, waste (including
the disposal of pharmaceutical products), immunisation and safe handling
and disposal of sharps.
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