New IT system to help prevent infections at Leicester’s Hospitals

March 29, 2011 - PRLog -- The system, ICNet and SSI Monitor, is part of an innovative software package that combines information about patient movements in the hospital with data held by the laboratory and theatre systems, so that staff are alerted when patients are either infected or at risk of an infection. This leads to swift action to prevent infections spreading and a reduction in the numbers of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.  

Liz Collins, lead nurse for infection prevention, said: “This will be of huge benefit to assist us in improving patient care. It will lead to earlier treatment and more effective infection prevention management for our patients and will enable my team to work more efficiently. We are delighted to have this system in place.”

ICNet is the result of a £150,000 award made by the Department of Health to Leicester’s hospitals in recognition of the Trust’s success in preventing infections. The new system will allow the Trust to build on its good practice.

Katie Houghton, founder of ICNet International commented “The effects of healthcare associated infections must not be underestimated in terms of the impact to the patient as well as the economv.  

We are honoured to be working with the team at Leicester and look forward to seeing some real benefits to both the patients and the staff, thus proving the DoH funding was wisely invested.”

In addition to infection prevention, it will eventually be used to control antibiotic use, helping the Trust lead the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.

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ICNet is an innovative software package that allows real time collaboration of patient and laboratory data to enable infection control management and surveillance of HAI. It is a powerful tool for the analysis required for mandatory reporting of HAI.