Infection control in the community: a pragmatic approach.

ABSTRACT

Infection can have a detrimental and potentially life-threatening impact on the health and wellbeing of patients. Infection control and prevention is as important in the community as it is in an acute hospital. This article summarizes the key infection and prevention issues in community nursing. It offers a pragmatic approach as community settings may be challenging to both infection control and community healthcare professionals. Patient safety is the top priority, and ensuring that safe practices are followed to reduce the risk of infection regardless of healthcare setting is paramount. There are many external factors that may impede infection control practices when delivering care in a patient's own home, and this article sets out the factors that must be considered in order to manage the risk.