Elements and Performance Criteria
- Follow pharmacy infection control guidelines.
- Identify pharmacy activities that require use of infection control practices and implement appropriate response.
- Follow organisational procedures for infection control throughout relevant activities.
- Report and provide clear information on incidents where precautions have failed and follow organisational procedures for care after exposure to risk of infection.
- Use hygienic and safety practices to control cross-transmission.
- Select and use personal protective equipment to avoid cross-transmission of infection.
- Follow hand hygiene and washing procedures before and after customer contact, cleaning and waste disposal.
- Cover own cuts and abrasions with occlusive dressings and change regularly.
- Avoid unhygienic personal contact with other people, work surfaces and equipment.
- Follow procedures for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
- Handle sharps with care to avoid stick injury and transmission of infection to self and dispose of immediately in sharps container.
- Clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces.
- Select and prepare appropriate cleaning products, disinfectants and equipment according to manufacturer instructions.
- Clean and disinfect work surfaces and equipment before and after use.
- Use and replace surface covers when required.
- Clean spills of bodily fluids using infection control methods.
- Decontaminate equipment requiring special processing after customer contact.
- Dispose of waste and sharps safely, according to specific disposal requirements and organisational waste management procedures.