Healthcare associated infections
Reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections by using the toolkits and guidance on how to tackle the likes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) can develop either as a direct result of healthcare interventions such as medical or surgical treatment, or from being in contact with a healthcare setting.
The term HCAI covers a wide range of infections. The most well-known include those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).
HCAIs pose a serious risk to patients, staff and visitors. They can incur significant costs for the NHS and cause significant morbidity to those infected. As a result, infection prevention and control is a key priority for the NHS.
Related content
- Minimising Clostridioides difficile and Gram-negative Bloodstream Infections
- Combatting antimicrobial resistance
- Infection Prevention and Control Commissioning Toolkit – Produced by the Royal College of Nursing and the Infection Prevention Society, this toolkit provides an overarching framework to support commissioning and provider organisations in England to meet the challenge of reducing health care acquired infections.