The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published three reports on the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections in public acute hospitals. HIQA carries out unannounced inspections in public acute hospitals in Ireland to monitor compliance with theNational Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections 2009. Inspections aim to assess hygiene in the hospital as observed by the inspection team and experienced by patients at any given time.

An unannounced inspection in Mercy University Hospital, Cork on 07 June 2016 found good local ownership in relation to infection prevention and control in St Therese’s Ward. Overall, the physical environment and patient equipment in St Therese’s Ward were clean and well maintained. However, the inspection revealed a significant need for improvement in the Theatre Department infrastructure and decontamination facilities. The findings of the initial inspection in the Theatre Department were such that a re-inspection was deemed necessary within six weeks, and this took place on 20 July 2016. Substantive issues and risks remain due to current decontamination facilities, processes and the challenges posed by the older infrastructure and design of the Theatre Department.

On 06 July 2016, an unannounced inspection in Wexford General Hospital found that there had been significant investment in infrastructural improvements in clinical areas since the 2015 inspection. Both the environment and patient equipment in the Oncology Day Ward were very clean and well maintained. Opportunities for improvement were identified in relation to environmental hygiene in the Day Care Unit. Reprocessing of reusable vaginal ultrasound transducer probes was not in line with best practice guidelines and requires review and improvement. The hospital needs to perform a legionella site risk assessment and to manage legionella control measures in line with current national guidelines.

An unannounced inspection was carried out in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore on 17 June 2016. Overall, the patient environment in the Surgical Ear Nose and Throat Ward was generally clean with some exceptions. It was of concern that the hospital did not have a designated management position with responsibility for hospital hygiene. Inspectors found the efforts of Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore in working to progress a surgical site infection surveillance programme should be commended. However, ongoing lack of clarity with respect to data generated by the programme runs the risk of impacting upon its ongoing effectiveness. The hospital needs to continue to work to reduce the incidence of surgical site infection through implementation of associated action plans in the best interest of patients.

Hospitals must now revise and amend their quality improvement plan to prioritize the improvements necessary to fully comply with the standards.