Sunday 13 October to Saturday 19 October is International Infection Prevention Week.
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is an international event highlighting how we can protect our health through reducing infection. This awareness week provides an opportunity to emphasise the importance of effective infection prevention and control measures throughout our health service.
“International Infection Prevention Week highlights the importance of infection prevention and the actions we can all take to reduce infection. Our focus is on supporting the diverse range of staff who work to protect the health of patients in our services across the country. While hand hygiene training is available widely, it is significant that the HSE has recently introduced mandatory ‘hand hygiene’ training for all HSE staff and staff in HSE funded services. Good hand hygiene is the single most important way to help prevent the spread of infection and this comprehensive e-learning training will further support staff in their work.”
Mandatory eLearning module on HSeLanD
The new mandatory training programme involves completing an eLearning module on the AMRIC hub of HSeLanD. The training is aligned with the National Clinical Guideline No. 30 on Infection Prevention and Control. This is the Irish guidance for all health and social care staff which underpins all our work on infection prevention and control. Staff are required to complete the module by 31 December 2024, with refresher training every two years.
Help protect yourself and your family from an infection or superbug
Wash your hands properly and often, especially:
- after coughing or sneezing
- before and after preparing food and eating
- after using the toilet or changing a child’s nappy
- if you were in contact with someone who has COVID-19, fever or respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing)
- before and after being in a crowd (especially an indoor crowd)
- on entering and before leaving buildings, including your home or anyone else's home
- after touching animals or animal waste
- before and after visiting someone in a hospital or residential setting
Regular use of a hand moisturiser will protect your hands from the drying effects of hand hygiene products. If you have dry skin or a skin condition, apply moisturiser after washing and drying your hands.
We often think we have washed our hands properly, but that isn’t always the case.
Tips for stopping infections spreading at home
Regular hand washing is important, but particularly important at certain times:
- if you were in contact with someone who has a fever or respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing) or COVID-19
- before and after visiting someone in a hospital or residential setting
- if in contact with a person or an animal with an infection
- getting home from being out and about or at work, especially if your work involves a lot of contact with people or animals
- before starting to prepare, handle food or eat food
- after touching raw meat and poultry
- after using the toilet and after changing nappies
- after handling animal waste
Get more information
Access the mandatory ‘hand hygiene’ training for staff on HSeLanD