infection control and prevention 1 Outlines This presentation will outline the following: Health law by Ministry of Health (MOH) addressing infection control and prevention. Infection control and prevention policies. Infection control and prevention as a established policy. Internal policies. Importance of this law. Assessment of compliance to this regulation. Risk management in view of this regulation. Conclusion. This presentation will outline the following Health law by Ministry of Health (MOH) addressing infection control and prevention, Infection control and prevention policies, safe disposal of sharps as internal policy, importance of this law, assessment of compliance to this regulation and risk management in view of this regulation. 2 Health Law by MOH Health law by MOH addresses the importance of infection control and prevention in accordance to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) guidelines and Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (MOH, 2013; MOH, 2002) It emphasizes the need of reducing the risk of healthcare associated infections as one of the most important International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) according to Joint Commission International (JCI) (MOH, 2013) It addresses the MOH’s efforts to provide healthcare services, healthcare education and promotion to maintain safety and protection for all (MOH, 2002). Health law by MOH addresses the importance of infection control and prevention in accordance to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) guidelines and Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (MOH, 2013; MOH, 2002). It addresses the MOH’s efforts to provide healthcare services, healthcare education and promotion to maintain safety and protection for all (MOH, 2002). MOH emphasizes the need of reducing the risk of healthcare associated infections as one of the most important International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) according to Joint Commission International (JCI) (MOH, 2013). MOH ensures and supervises all healthcare settings within the country to apply infection control and prevention practices as required and in accordance to CDC guidelines and JCI recommendations (MOH, 2013). It focuses on the need of infection control policies in any healthcare setting for better compliance and safety (Soule, Memish & Malani, 2012; Memish, 2002). 3 Infection Control and Prevention Policies Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH and in accordance to GCC guidelines address better ways to: Manage specific patient populations. Ensure standards in healthcare delivery (MOH, 2013). http://ngha.med.sa/English/GCC/Pages/default.aspx Infection control and prevention policies mandated by health law of MOH and in accordance to GCC address better ways to manage specific patient populations, detect significant microorganisms or transmission risks that impact health and ensure safe and high standards in healthcare delivery (MOH, 2013). Also, to ensure correct and clear procedures of Hand Hygiene techniques, ...

1. infection control and prevention
1
Outlines
This presentation will outline the following:
Health law by Ministry of Health (MOH) addressing infection
control and prevention.
Infection control and prevention policies.
Infection control and prevention as a established policy.
Internal policies.
Importance of this law.
Assessment of compliance to this regulation.
Risk management in view of this regulation.
Conclusion.
This presentation will outline the following
Health law by Ministry of Health (MOH) addressing infection
control and prevention, Infection control and prevention
policies, safe disposal of sharps as internal policy, importance
of this law, assessment of compliance to this regulation and risk
management in view of this regulation.
2
Health Law by MOH

2. Health law by MOH addresses the importance of infection
control and prevention in accordance to Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) guidelines and Center of Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) (MOH, 2013; MOH, 2002)
It emphasizes the need of reducing the risk of healthcare
associated infections as one of the most important International
Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) according to Joint Commission
International (JCI) (MOH, 2013)
It addresses the MOH’s efforts to provide healthcare services,
healthcare education and promotion to maintain safety and
protection for all (MOH, 2002).
Health law by MOH addresses the importance of infection
control and prevention in accordance to Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) guidelines and Center of Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) (MOH, 2013; MOH, 2002). It addresses the
MOH’s efforts to provide healthcare services, healthcare
education and promotion to maintain safety and protection for
all (MOH, 2002). MOH emphasizes the need of reducing the
risk of healthcare associated infections as one of the most
important International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) according
to Joint Commission International (JCI) (MOH, 2013).
MOH ensures and supervises all healthcare settings within the
country to apply infection control and prevention practices as
required and in accordance to CDC guidelines and JCI
recommendations (MOH, 2013). It focuses on the need of
infection control policies in any healthcare setting for better
compliance and safety (Soule, Memish & Malani, 2012;
Memish, 2002).
3
Infection Control and Prevention Policies
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH and
in accordance to GCC guidelines address better ways to:
Manage specific patient populations.

3. Ensure standards in healthcare delivery (MOH, 2013).
http://ngha.med.sa/English/GCC/Pages/default.aspx
Infection control and prevention policies mandated by health
law of MOH and in accordance to GCC address better ways to
manage specific patient populations, detect significant
microorganisms or transmission risks that impact health and
ensure safe and high standards in healthcare delivery (MOH,
2013). Also, to ensure correct and clear procedures of Hand
Hygiene techniques, aseptic techniques, waste management,
cough etiquette and employee health (MOH, 2013). These
policies need to be established and implemented correctly and
accordingly in each healthcare facility in Saudi Arabia to yield
a healthy and safe environment for patients, visitors, staff and
the community (MOH, 2013).
4
Infection Control and Prevention Policies
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH and
in accordance to CDC guidelines address better ways to:
Guide and instruct healthcare personnel on infection control
practices.
Ensure occupational and environmental health and Safety (CDC,
2017; MOH, 2013).
https://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership.htm
MOH follows CDC guidelines of infection control and
prevention to apply it through established policies at all
healthcare settings of Saudi Arabia. Infection control policies
mandated by health law of MOH and in accordance to CDC
guidelines address better ways to Guide and instruct healthcare
personnel on infection control practices (CDC, 2017; MOH,

4. 2013). Also, to ensure occupational and environmental health
and Safety (CDC, 2017; MOH, 2013). Moreover, to educate
staff, patients, families and sitters about infection control
(CDC, 2017; MOH, 2013).
5
Infection Control and Prevention Policies
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH and
in accordance to JCI recommendation address better ways to:
Reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections.
Ensure correct process of hand hygiene (MOH, 2013).
https://www.hamad.qa/EN/hospitals-and-
services/WWRC/About/Research%20and%20Accreditation/Accr
editation/Pages/JCI.aspx
MOH follows JCI IPSGs which include the fifth IPSG of
reducing the risk of healthcare associated infections (JCI,
2018). Infection control policies mandated by health law of
MOH and in accordance to JCI recommendation address better
ways to reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections,
ensure correct process of hand hygiene and maintain standard
precautions as well as expanded precautions (MOH, 2013).
Policies should address patients transport from one area to
another and also education of disease and infection control
practices (MOH, 2013). In addition to, policies addressing the
importance of N95 fit check and fit test to handle airborne
isolated cases (Oboho et al., 2015; MOH, 2013).
6
Infection Control and Prevention Policies
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH and
in accordance to World Health Organization (WHO) address
better ways to:
Perform correct hand hygiene techniques (WHO, 2017).

5. Educate staff, patients and sitters about the importance of hand
hygiene (MOH, 2013).
http://www.who.int/about/en/
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH and
in accordance to World Health Organization (WHO) address
better ways to perform correct hand hygiene techniques (WHO,
2017). Also, to use of protective personal equipment (WHO,
2017). Moreover, to educate staff, patients and sitters about the
importance of hand hygiene (MOH, 2013). WHO (2017),
emphasized that hand hygiene is the building block for infection
prevention and control. Hand hygiene need to be addressed
clearly in established policies for better compliance (Ellingson
et al., 2014)
7
Infection Control and Prevention Policies
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH are
based on achieving Saudi Vision 2030 which focuses on :
Promoting preventive healthcare.
Reducing infectious diseases.
Encouraging citizens to make use of primary healthcare services
as a first step (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia vision 2030, 2016).
http://vision2030.gov.sa/en
Infection control policies mandated by health law of MOH are
based on achieving Saudi Vision 2030 which focuses on
promoting preventive healthcare, reducing infectious diseases,
encouraging citizens to make use of primary healthcare services
as a first step (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia vision 2030, 2016).
MOH works toward achieving healthcare improvements and
optimizing the capacity of hospitals and healthcare settings to

6. address population needs as well as to enhance the quality of
preventive and therapeutic healthcare services (Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia vision 2030, 2016).
8
Infection Control and Prevention as a established Policy
Infection Control and Prevention policies should address all
aspects of infection control and disease prevention in healthcare
settings. This includes but not limited to:
Hand hygiene.
Standard precautions.
Isolation expanded precautions.
Infection control during construction and renovation.
Waste management.
Preemployment screenings.
Post exposure measurements (MOH, 2013).
Infection Control and Prevention policies should address all
aspects of infection control and disease prevention. This
includes but not limited to hand hygiene, standard precautions,
isolation expanded precautions, infection control during
construction and renovation, waste management, preemployment
screenings and post exposure measurements (MOH, 2013). Each
healthcare setting has its established infection control and
prevention policies managed and supervised by infection control
department and healthcare quality. It is the responsibility of all
healthcare providers from all fields to adhere to these policies.
9
Infection Control and Prevention as a Internal Policy

7. Infection Control and Prevention policies are Internal Policies
and Procedures (IPPs) that are applicable to all healthcare
providers in a healthcare setting for the purpose of infection
control, disease prevention, staff and patient safety (MOH,
2013).
Example of Infection Control and Prevention IPP is Safe
Disposal of Sharps (MOH, 2013).
https://www.odontologos.mx/odontologos/noticias/index.php?id
_cat=9
Infection Control and Prevention policies are Internal Policies
and Procedures (IPPs) that are applicable to all healthcare
providers in a healthcare setting for the purpose of infection
control, disease prevention, staff and patient safety (MOH,
2013). Example of Infection Control and Prevention IPP is Safe
Disposal of Sharps which is applied in Ministry of National
Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA) (MOH, 2013). It is considered
an important IPP that address a common infection problem of
needle stick injuries especially among nurses (Akyol & Kargin,
2016).
10
Safe Disposal of Sharps
It is made up of the following internal policies:
Standard precautions.
Safety Reporting System.
Environmental health.
Occupational health.
Chemical and hazardous spills.
Needle stick injury (MOH, 2013).

8. http://www.safered.com/
Safe Disposal of Sharps is made up of internal policies which
include standard precautions that focuses on adhering to correct
hand hygiene and wearing proper protective equipment
(MOH, 2013). Also, Safety Reporting System to repost any
potential or actual hazards of sharps in the healthcare setting
(MOH, 2013). Moreover, environmental and occupational health
to assess the safety and placement of sharp containers in the
healthcare settings (MOH, 2013). In addition to, hazardous
spills and needle stick injury (MOH, 2013).
11
Importance of Safe Disposal of Sharps Policy
Purpose:
To provide a clear process on safe practice of handling, storage
and disposal of sharps with the aim eliminate unsafe practices
that may cause irreversible injuries or pose infectious hazards to
staff, patients and others within the healthcare setting (MOH,
2013).
Applicability:
It is applicable to all healthcare providers involve in safe
handling, storage and disposal of sharps within the healthcare
setting (MOH, 2013).
The importance of IPP Safe Disposal of Sharps is to provide a
clear process on safe practice of handling, storage and disposal
of sharps with the aim eliminate unsafe practices that may cause
irreversible injuries or pose infectious hazards to staff, patients
and others within the healthcare setting (MOH, 2013). This IPP

9. is applicable to all healthcare providers involve in safe
handling, storage and disposal of sharps within the healthcare
setting (MOH, 2013).
12
IPP: Safe Disposal of Sharps
It ensures the procedure of safe disposal of sharps waste in
accordance with health and safety guidelines, MOH health law
and regulations by:
Applying strict environment of hazards.
Maintaining complete inventory of all hazardous sharps.
Ensuring safe process of handling, storage and disposal of
sharps.
Implementing reporting mechanism for spills, exposure and
injury through Safety Reporting System (SRS) (MOH, 2013).
The policy ensures the procedure of safe disposal of sharps
waste in accordance with health and safety guidelines, MOH
health law and regulations by:
Developing effective management plans for strict environment
of hazards.
Maintaining complete inventory of all hazardous sharps, types,
quantity and locations.
Ensuring clear process of safe handling, storage and disposal of
sharps.
Ensuring proper labeling of hazardous materials.
Using protective clothing or equipment during use, exposure
and disposal.
Implementing reporting mechanism for spills, exposure and
injury through Safety Reporting System (SRS) (MOH, 2013).

10. 13
Assessment of Compliance
MNG-HA conducted several infection control educational
sessions including safe disposal of sharps in 2001 till 2003 (El
Beltagy, El-Saed, Sallah & Balkhy, 2012). In 2004 and up to
2008, results showed compliance of healthcare providers in
Emergency Department (ED) from 12.4% to 3.4% and Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) from 13.7% to 3.4% (El Beltagy, El-Saed,
Sallah & Balkhy, 2012). Compliance toward safe infection
control practices of sharps disposal is important for staff safety
as well as patient safety (El Beltagy, El-Saed, Sallah & Balkhy,
2012).
14
Percutaneous Injuries in 1997 - 2000
Needle stick Injuries 2004
ED ICU Laboratory Others 0.124
0.13700000000000001 3.3000000000000002E-2 0.22
Percutaneous Injuries in 2004 - 2008
Needle stick Injuries 2004
ED ICU Laboratory Others 3.4000000000000002E-2
3.4000000000000002E-2 4.7E-2 0.106
Risk Management
Infection control and prevention is managed accordingly by
accurate risk management.
Risk management involves:

11. - Risk identification.
Risk assessment.
Risk analysis.
Risk reporting.
Risk control (MNG-HA, 2014a)
Risk management is a process of actions focused on controlling
risks, preventing threats, damages and financial loss within an
organization (Stoneburner, Goguen & Feringa, 2002). It is
important to consider that MNG-HA in Riyadh has managed to
control Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus and
other infection issues through accurate implementation of risk
management (Abolfotouh et al., 2017; Yousif, Alenazi & Arabi,
2016; Al-Thaqafy, El-Saed, Arabi & Balkhy, 2014). Risk
management involves risk identification, assessment, analysis,
reporting and control (MNG-HA, 2014a)
15
Conclusion
Infection control and prevention policies are important to any
healthcare setting. Saudi Vision 2030 focuses on implementing
healthcare policies to improve preventive healthcare, promote
health education, reduce infectious diseases and encourage
citizens to make use of primary healthcare services as a first
step (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia vision 2030, 2016).
16
References
Abolfotouh, M. A., AlQarni, A. A., Al-Ghamdi, S. M., Salam,

12. M., Al-Assiri, M. H., & Balkhy, H. H. (2017). An assessment of
the level of concern among hospital-based health-care workers
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Diseases, 17(1), 4 – 10.
Akyol, A., & Kargin, C. (2016). Needle Stick and sharp injuries
among nurses. Glob J Nurs Forensic Stud, 1(109), 1 – 5.
Al-Thaqafy, M. S., El-Saed, A., Arabi, Y. M., & Balkhy, H. H.
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