The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) will hold a press briefing for all medical and health journalists at 9:30am on Monday, February 14, 2011 at RCPI, No 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, to launch its position paper on Advice on the prevention and control of infection for hospital visitors and patients discharged from hospital. The position paper aims to provide advice on infection prevention for patients once they are discharged and outlines responsibilities of healthcare providers in providing advice to patients discharged with a medical advice. The position paper also offers advice to visitors on ways that they can prevent infection among those they are visiting.  

The press briefing will be attended by: Prof Hilary Humphreys, Chair of the RCPI Policy Group on Healthcare-associated Infections, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at RCSI and Consultant Microbiologist at Beaumont Hospital Dublin; Dr Brian O’Connell, Consultant Microbiologist at St James’s Hospital Dublin and Medical Director of the National MRSA Reference Laboratory; Ms Rosena Hanniffy, Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery Infection Prevention and Control at Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital Dublin; Mr Leo Kearns, Chief Executive Officer of RCPI.
 
Speaking on behalf of the RCPI Policy Group on Healthcare-associated infection, Dr Brian O’Connell said "Preventing infection is very important to a patient’s welfare. However, between 5-10% of patients admitted to acute hospitals will develop a healthcare-associated infection making good standards of hygiene and best personal and professional practice in hospitals and elsewhere essential in reducing the risk of acquiring or spreading infection.  The guidelines outlined in this paper offer practical steps for patients, visitors and healthcare workers to ensure infection protection".
 
Venue:
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
No 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2

To download the position paper click on this link:
Advice on the prevention and control of infection for hospital visitors and patients discharged from hospital