Risk and recognition

Assessing the risk of infection in a health and social care setting. Understanding risk is an important step in protecting residents, clients, patients staff and visitors from infectious diseases, including those caused by antibiotic resistant infections. There are many straightforward measures that can be taken to control risk, such as undertaking effective hand-washing to prevent cross contamination, but of course not all risks can be eliminated. But ensuring that as many steps as possible are taken to protect residents, clients, patients and staff from becoming infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria is highly desirable. Now, our risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to residents, client,s patients or staff in the work place.

If we are examining the risk of infection, then an assessment can be made about whether enough precautions have been taken to prevent harm caused by germs. Assessing the risks includes identifying the hazards for example, what is the bacteria that might be causing the infection? Then deciding who might be harmed and how that might happen, followed by evaluating the risks that the infection might spread, and then deciding on precautions to minimise the risk of that happening, recording these findings ,and communicating them effectively to staff, so that precautions can be implemented. And finally, reviewing and updating the risk assessment ,as necessary.

Now, remember when you’re looking for a hazard, a hazard is anything that may cause harm, and in the case of antibiotic resistant infections, this includes harmful bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Also, when you’re considering risks, remember that a risks infection is the chance that someone may become infected, as well as an indication about how serious the harm caused by this infection might be.