Admission of Infants from Home to SCBU for Investigation (Infection Prevention and Control)

Objectives

To ensure the safe admission of infants presenting from home to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) for investigations, including blood tests, while minimising the risk of infection transmission to other neonates and maintaining safe care within the unit environment.

Scope

This SOP applies to all medical, nursing, midwifery and support staff involved in the assessment, admission, investigation and short-stay management of infants admitted from home to SCBU.

Audience

Staff Nurses

ANNP’s

Paediatricians

Medical Staff

IPC Staff

1. Responsibilities

• The admitting clinician is responsible for completing an initial clinical and infection risk assessment.
• The nurse/midwife receiving the infant is responsible for implementation of Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) and isolation requirements.
• All staff are responsible for adhering to local infection prevention and control policies, hand hygiene standards and decontamination procedures.
• The nurse in charge / shift coordinator should support safe placement and minimise unnecessary movement through the unit.

2. Procedure

• Infants presenting from home must undergo an initial infection risk assessment at the booking / referral time. This should include assessment for signs of infection including respiratory symptoms and recent infectious contacts.
• Where admission to SCBU is clinically required, the infant should be admitted to the identified rooms in the unit either the breastfeeding room or isolation room.
• Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) must be implemented at all times, including effective hand hygiene, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe management of linen, waste and sharps.
• Dedicated equipment should be used where possible. Any shared equipment must be cleaned and decontaminated in accordance with local policy before reuse.
• Staff should avoid unnecessary movement between the isolation room and the main SCBU environment and should limit non-essential traffic into the room.
• Investigations and clinical review should be expedited to minimise the infant's length of stay within SCBU where possible.
• Following completion of assessment and blood tests, a clear decision should be made regarding discharge, transfer or ongoing admission based on clinical need.

3. Rationale

Infants admitted from home may have an unknown infection or colonisation status. In the SCBU environment, this presents a potential risk to other vulnerable neonates. Direct admission to an isolation room, combined with adherence to infection prevention and control measures, appropriately mitigates this risk and supports safe, timely neonatal care.

4. Governance Statement

Admission of a baby from home to SCBU for blood tests presents a potential infection prevention and control consideration due to unknown community infection status. However, where the baby is admitted directly to an isolation room and managed in line with standard infection prevention precautions, the risk of cross-infection to other vulnerable infants is appropriately mitigated. This approach is consistent with safe clinical practice and supports timely assessment and investigation while protecting the wider unit environment.

5. Key Points

• Admission from home is not contraindicated where clinically indicated.
• Isolation is the primary infection prevention and control measure.
• Strict adherence to IPC precautions is essential.
• Clinical need should be balanced with effective risk mitigation.

6. Records / Documentation

• Admission assessment and infection risk assessment to be documented in the clinical record.
• Any infection prevention concerns or incidents should be escalated in line with local governance processes.