Nurses are rarely, if ever, involved in the spectrum of infection prevention and control (IPC) activities.
They are excluded or waved away from education and professional competence building: “you don’t belong here”. However, as shown during the COVID-19 pandemic, IPC is within the scope of practice and core competencies of the nursing profession.
ESNO calls for a ‘health professional domain climate change’ in tackling infections, including future pandemics, which is supported by a motivated, sustainable, and competent nursing workforce.
The ESNO Focus Group Microbial issues, has set out a range of activities in supporting nurses in gaining education for the years to come, including surveys and data collection activities, and provide guidance for health institutes in bring out the best possible quality of care aiming in reducing infections with a focus on prevention. The goals are focused on:
• Education and competence building of specialist Nurses
• Creating a sustainable ‘European professional network and beyond’
• Providing expertise opinion related to the ‘social and climate implication’ on reducing infections
This unique group of specialist nurses was formally established in January 2022, although had a prior trajectory of projects and collaborations including the development of the 4 Modules on vaccination, antimicrobial resistance, and Infection Prevention Control.
The lead group includes 8 members who share a long-term ambition, and is inclusive in terms of gender, expertise and origin across the European region.
The group is supported by extended networks and has significant formal relations with highly relevant institutions related to microbes, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship (AMR-S), vaccination, and IPC.
Jeanette Verkerk
Nurse Specialist AGZ, area of expertise urology/andrology at St. Antonius Hospital, Netherlands, PhD candidate
Enrique Castro Sanchez
Lecturer, researcher and leader in nursing involvement in infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship, United Kingdom
Alessia Arcangeli
Infection Control Nurse Specialist National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Lazzaro Spallanzani, Italy
Noel Abela
Senior Practice Nurse at Mater Dei Hospital - Malta. MSc Infection Control, Malta
Tihana Gašpert
Oncology Nurse, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia
Silvana Gastaldi
Clinical Research Assistant and Research Nurse, Verona University, Italy
Ber Oomen
Program manager and Executive Director ESNO, Netherlands
Josephine Declay
European ICU nurse, Secretary of SIZ Nursing, the Belgium critical care nurses association
Luc Gryson
Nurse Specialist in Wound management, education, ostomy and infection control. Member of the European Wound management Association and reservist Lieutenant Kolonel, Belgium Defence
Video 1
This video is the first in a three-part series focused on essential vaccination practices. It covers key aspects such as understanding vaccine protocols, ensuring proper documentation and record-keeping, and effective communication with patients. Additionally, it highlights the importance of checking special patient circumstances for possible contraindications, verifying vaccine validity through proper storage, and concludes with a summary of key points. This foundational video sets the stage for the next two, which will dive deeper into the technicalities and safety measures in vaccination administration.
Video 2
The second video in this three-part series focuses on the technical aspects of administering vaccines. It covers essential steps, including proper hand hygiene, preparing a clean vaccination station, and checking the vaccine for expiration and type. The video also demonstrates drawing the vaccine into a syringe, selecting and preparing the correct injection site, administering the vaccine with precision, and ensuring safe disposal of the needle and syringe. This instructional guide provides nurses with detailed procedures to enhance safe and effective vaccine administration’
Video 3
The third video in this series covers the important steps to take after administering a vaccine. It focuses on monitoring patients for immediate reactions, checking vital signs, and providing clear aftercare instructions. The video also addresses the process of reporting adverse events, ensuring accurate record-keeping, and scheduling patient follow-ups. This final instalment reinforces the critical post-vaccination procedures, ensuring that patients receive proper care and that all necessary documentation is completed, culminating with a summary and take away messages.
Five videos on a webinar held on 1 June 2022 on ‘Catheter acquired Urinary Tract infections (CAUTI): Cause, Impact and Prevention’. Health care providers, (specialised) nurses and Nurse Practitioners have knowledge about prevalence and incidence of Indwelling catheters in hospitals and CAUTI. Know how to prevent CAUTI and unnecessary indwelling catheterisation in hospitalised patients. The goal of the webinar is to share the knowledge on infection tract prevention in catheterisation, proper indications on use of indwelling catheters, placement and maintenance of indwelling catheters Aims and objectives are to learn about, prevention of urinary infections in patients with indwelling catheters who are hospitalised, proper indications for indwelling catheters, and hygienic maintenance of indwelling catheters.
Video 1 - Full video - Introduction and moderation by Jeanette Verkerk
Video 2 - Catheter infections, facts and figures by Noel Abela
Video 3 - Catheterization according to guidelines by Laura Ross
Video 4 - Maintenance of indwelling catheters by Eva Wallace
Video 5 - Hand hygeine and infection prevention by Noel Abela
