Who is responsible for regulating hospital acquired infections?
HSE has a general responsibility to enforce the law, which requires employers to control risks to members of the public arising from work activities (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974). Healthcare workers are a key risk group because of the nature of their work.We do not have accurate data on infections and ill health in this group – but data from physician reporting schemes indicates infection rates of about 30 per 100 000 workers per year amongst nurses and about 100 per 100 000 per year amongst care givers in residential homes. Most of these infections are diarrheal diseases. However, more serious infections do sometimes occur. For example, four health workers have died after having accidentally incurred needlestick injuries during work with HIV patients. Another nine are also known to be sero-positive as a result of this kind of accident. The control of occupational exposure to biological agents in the healthcare setting is covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
