Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Week kicks off on 20 October, with NHS Lanarkshire encouraging all staff to refresh their knowledge, play their part in keeping patients safe – and meet some quirky new characters along the way.
This year’s campaign uses a series of fun and memorable characters to bring infection prevention messages to life. Captain Clean Hands, Norovirus Nigel, and The Spore Slayer are just some of the figures helping to reinforce vital guidance on hand hygiene, stool monitoring and isolation.
Each character has a unique personality and a clear message: simple actions like washing hands properly, documenting symptoms accurately, and isolating patients promptly can break the chain of infection.
Top of the agenda is hand hygiene. All healthcare staff are being asked to double-check their understanding of the Five Moments for Hand Hygiene and ensure they are consistently using hand rub – or soap and water when required – as the first line of defence against infection. Staff are also being encouraged to foster a culture of safety by gently reminding one another to clean their hands when needed.
The campaign also highlights the importance of managing loose stools, including those caused by norovirus or Clostridioides difficile. Both Norovirus Nigel and The Spore Slayer have the same weakness: proper hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, along with clean surfaces, accurate stool chart documentation, and appropriate patient isolation when needed.
Joanne Kane, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, said: “Infection Prevention and Control Week gives us a creative and engaging way to bring important safety messages to life. Behind the fun characters are serious messages – hand hygiene, stool monitoring and timely isolation remain absolutely vital in stopping the spread of infection.
“Hand hygiene is everyone’s responsibility. That means following the Five Moments for Hand Hygiene — before touching a patient, before clean or aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, after touching a patient, and after touching their surroundings.
“We’re also reminding staff to use alcohol-based hand rub when hands aren’t visibly soiled, and soap and water when they are. Promoting a culture where staff feel empowered to gently remind one another about hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways we can keep everyone safe. We all have a role to play in protecting patients, colleagues and ourselves.”
For more, visit the IPC resources on FirstPort.
