Shooting Up: Infections among injecting drug users in the United Kingdom 2005 - Northern Ireland Summary (PDF 149 KB)

Shooting Up: Infections among injecting drug users in the United Kingdom - Northern Ireland Summary

Mapping the Issues: HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United Kingdom 2005

Mapping the Issues: HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United Kingdom 2005

Women and Sexually Transmitted Infections: a Gendered Analysis

This is a publication of the Womens Health Council Read the report (PDF, 1.92mb)    

Help us to prevent infections spreading

This leaflet is part of an extension of the cleanyourhands campaign, aimed at preventing the spread of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in community healthcare settings including primary care and dental services, residential and nursing homes (including independent sector homes), hospices and independent clinics/hospitals. It is designed to heighten awareness in patient/relative waiting areas of how healthcare staff can help protect patients from avoidable infections by cleaning their hands using proper techniques. Due to licensing restrictions, this leaflet is not available for download. Limited numbers are available from local HSC Trusts (Belfast HSCT and South Eastern HSCT on 028 9056 5862; Southern HSCT on 028 3741 2887; Northern HSCT on 028 2563 5575; Western HSCT on 028 7186 5127).

Foodborne infections & gastrointestinal disease on the island Of Ireland in 2002

A safefood consultation paper, ‘Towards the Enhancement of Foodborne Disease Surveillance’ indicated that the guiding principles for the development of surveillance in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland should be the integration of data collection systems and analysis of combined data. The current surveillance systems have developed independently from each other and clinical, food and animal surveillance systems remain un-integrated in both jurisdictions. A more complete and efficient food safety system could be achieved through co-ordination and linkages across the disease surveillance systems and jurisdictions. For that reason, stronger links are being developed between safefood, surveillance agencies, government departments and public health professionals. This report is an examination and review of the clinical surveillance data collected in both jurisdictions. The work was undertaken as part of safefood’s support for the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), which trains EU medical practitioners, public health nurses, microbiologists or veterinarians in all aspects of foodborne disease surveillance.

Northern Ireland Point Prevalence Survey of Hospital-acquired Infections and Antimicrobial Use 2012

The PHA�coordinated Northern Ireland's participation in ECDC's National Prevalence Survey on�Hospital-Acquired Infections & on Antimicrobial Use. Hospitals in Northern Ireland participated in data collection between May and June 2012.This report provides a snapshot of the levels of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and levels of antimicrobial use (AMU) in hospitals in Northern Ireland during 2012.There have been three previous HAI PPS surveys and the last survey was carried out in 2006. It is difficult to compare each survey as the data was collected in a different way. However, after making allowances, there was an overall drop in HAI prevalence of 18% from 2006 to 2012.The PPS data collection was undertaken by hospital teams between May and June 2012 (one hospital deferred data collection until September 2012 because of a move to a new hospital); 16 hospitals surveyed 3,992 eligible patients. The median age of all patients was 66 years. A total of 383 (10 per cent) children under 16 years of age were surveyed.�Key results from this year's survey:The prevalence of HAI was 4.2%. A total of 166 patients were diagnosed with an active HAI with 3 patients having more than one infection.When comparing ward specialties, HAI prevalence was highest for patients in adult intensive care units (ICUs) at 9.1 per cent, followed by care of the elderly wards at 5.7%.The most common types of HCAI were respiratory infections (including pneumonia and infections of the lower respiratory tract) (27.9 per cent of all infections), surgical site infections (18.9 per cent) and urinary tract infections (UTI) (11.8 per cent).Since the last PPS in 2006 there has been a reduction in MRSA infections - from 0.9 per cent �of the hospital population to less than 0.1 per cent in patients; and a five-fold reduction in C. difficile infections (from 1.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent).The prevalence of antimicrobial use was 29.5%.Most antibiotic use (60 per cent) in hospitals was in patients receiving treatment for infections which commenced in the community. Eleven percent of surgical prophylaxis was prescribed for greater than one day.��

Preventing infections caused by Pseudomonas - Parent/Carer Information leaflet

Information for parents on preventing infections caused by Pseudomonas

Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Infections in Northern ireland 2012

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has a lead role in protecting the population from infection and environmental hazards through a range of core functions including communicable disease surveillance and monitoring, operational support & advice, and education, training & research. The effective management of infectious disease depends on high quality surveillance. Surveillance of communicable gastrointestinal infectious disease provides timely information so that public health action can result. The range of surveillance outputs is broad and includes: � Weekly surveillance - weekly internal report to the Health Protection team. � Monthly/quarterly and annual returns – to various external bodies including the Food Standards Agency, European Centre and Disease Control, Epidemiology of Foodborne Infections Group and Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety. � Annual reports and data – published yearly on the PHA website. � Analysis of outbreaks – descriptive and/or analytical epidemiological analysis �

Northern Ireland Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Long Term Care Facilities

The Northern Ireland Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Long Term Care Facilities, also known as the 'HALT' survey was conducted as part of the 2013 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) European HALT survey.In May 2013, 42 Northern Ireland long-term care facilities (nursing and residential homes) participated in a European point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use. Thirty-one privately owned nursing homes and 11 HSC Trust-controlled residential homes took part.The report and results have highlighted priority areas for future interventions to prevent and control HCAI, antimicrobial stewardship and future local and national prevalence surveys in long-term care facilities. The 2013 European report was published on 5th May 2014.

Healthcare associated infections

Information for patients and visitors on the prevention of healthcare associated infections.

Eleven leaflets for patients and visitors on healthcare associated infections - including accessible formats

The following suite of nine leaflets for patients and visitors to healthcare settings include information on healthcare associated infections, C. difficile, MRSA, norovirus, scabies, ESBL resistant bacteria, multi-drug resistant bacteria and laundry and hand hygiene guidance.

Gastrointestinal Infections Annual Surveillance Report 2013

The Public Health Agency (PHA)�has a lead role in protecting the population from infection and environmental hazards through a range of core functions including communicable disease surveillance and monitoring, operational support & advice, and education, training and research.�The effective management of infectious disease depends on high quality surveillance. �Surveillance of communicable gastrointestinal infectious disease provides timely information so that public health action can result.�

Leaflets for patients and vistors on healthcare associated infections- including accessible formats

Healthcare associated infections are infections that someone has developed,as a direct result of receiving healthcare.Occasionally, carers or others providing healthcare may develop HCAIs.

Gastrointestinal Infections Annual Surveillance Report 2014

The Public Health Agency (PHA)�has a lead role in protecting the population from infection and environmental hazards through a range of core functions including communicable disease surveillance and monitoring, operational support & advice, and education, training and research.�