Infection Control Audit - Care Homes

Your Score: 0%

  • Is there a named IPC lead who is trained and responsible for overseeing infection control practices?
  • Are all staff trained in infection prevention and control as part of induction and ongoing updates?
  • Are hand hygiene facilities (soap, water, disposable towels) available at all care and clinical areas?
  • Is alcohol-based hand rub available where appropriate and used correctly by staff?
  • Do staff perform hand hygiene before and after every contact with residents or equipment?
  • Are hand hygiene audits conducted regularly and results shared with staff?
  • Do staff wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the activity they are doing?
  • Is PPE stored correctly and in good supply at the point of use?
  • Are staff trained in correct donning and doffing of PPE?
  • Are clinical waste bins and PPE disposal areas correctly labelled and used?
  • Are all rooms, communal spaces and bathrooms cleaned daily using appropriate disinfectants?
  • Is there a clear written cleaning schedule for routine and enhanced cleaning?
  • Is cleaning frequency increased during outbreaks or high-risk periods?
  • Are frequently touched surfaces cleaned multiple times a day (e.g., handrails, light switches)?
  • Is cleaning staff trained in COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and IPC protocols?
  • Are mops, cloths and other cleaning equipment colour-coded and used correctly?
  • Are laundry protocols in place, including separation of clean and dirty laundry and high-temp washes?
  • Is linen handled, stored, and transported in a way that prevents contamination?
  • Are toilets and commodes cleaned between each use with appropriate products?
  • Are staff aware of how to respond to bodily fluid spills and is a kit readily available?
  • Are isolation procedures clear and followed if a resident has or is suspected of having an infection?
  • Is signage used appropriately to alert staff and visitors to infection risks or restrictions?
  • Are residents with confirmed infections cared for with consistent staffing (cohorting) where possible?
  • Are visitors informed about IPC policies and supported to follow them (e.g., handwashing, PPE)?
  • Are infection outbreaks reported to the local health protection team and actions documented?
  • Is there an up-to-date outbreak management plan that is reviewed and practiced?
  • Is the ventilation in communal and resident areas sufficient and regularly maintained?
  • Are windows opened regularly where safe and appropriate to improve airflow?
  • Are staff vaccinated against flu, COVID-19, and other relevant infections?
  • Is there a record of residents’ immunisation history and are vaccinations offered routinely?
  • Are antimicrobial stewardship principles followed, and unnecessary antibiotics avoided?
  • Are IPC audits conducted regularly with action plans and follow-up reviews?
  • Are lessons learned from IPC incidents shared across the team and documented?
  • Are staff screened for infections such as MRSA where applicable before starting work?
  • Are infection control policies reviewed annually and accessible to all staff?
  • Are staff aware of how to escalate concerns about IPC breaches or equipment failures?
  • Are temperature checks or health monitoring in place during outbreaks for residents and staff?
  • Are communal equipment (e.g., hoists, slings, blood pressure monitors) cleaned between each use?
  • Are sharps disposal protocols followed and are bins available and not overfilled?
  • Are mouth care and oral hygiene tools stored and used in a way that avoids contamination?
  • Are food safety and infection control practices aligned (e.g., separate kitchen tools for raw/cooked)?
  • Is there a system for identifying residents who are at higher infection risk (e.g., wounds, catheters)?
  • Is catheter care performed using aseptic technique and is documentation complete?
  • Are wound dressings managed hygienically with clean technique and recorded appropriately?