Preventing Sepsis Through Strong Infection Control in Nursing Homes

While sepsis often captures attention for its urgency and severity, it almost always begins with something more familiar: an infection. In nursing homes, where residents are often medically complex and immunocompromised, preventing infection is one of the most powerful strategies for preventing sepsis.

Effective infection control isn't just about having policies in place, it's about how those practices are applied in the real world, every day, by every member of the care team.

Infection Control as a First Line of Defense

Sepsis develops when an infection triggers a chain reaction in the body that leads to inflammation, tissue damage, or organ failure. Common sources include urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, pressure injuries, and surgical wounds. Many of these infections are preventable, and even when they aren’t, early identification and management can keep them from progressing to sepsis.

That makes infection control not only a regulatory requirement, but also a critical quality and safety process for every nursing home.

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Practices That Reduce Infection Risk

Preventing infections, and by extension, sepsis, requires consistency across a wide range of practices, including:

• Hand hygiene: One of the simplest and most effective tools. Facilities with high compliance rates tend to see lower infection and re-hospitalization rates.
• Catheter and wound care: Indwelling devices and chronic wounds are common entry points for infection. Staff must follow sterile protocols and monitor for signs of inflammation or discharge.
• Environmental cleaning: Housekeeping and laundry staff play a key role in reducing environmental contamination. High-touch surfaces, shared equipment, and resident rooms all require vigilant disinfection.
• Respiratory precautions: Proper use of PPE, especially during flu and COVID seasons, remains essential to limiting the spread of respiratory pathogens.
• Vaccination: Encouraging staff and resident immunization helps reduce the risk of flu, pneumonia, and other infections that can escalate to sepsis.

Recognizing Vulnerable Moments and Populations

Certain residents carry elevated sepsis risk due to underlying conditions, frequent hospital visits, or the presence of devices like catheters or feeding tubes. But risk can also spike during transitions, such as hospital discharges, wound dressing changes, or following antibiotic treatments that suppress natural immune defenses.

Staff should be especially mindful during these periods. Changes in condition, new symptoms, or even subtle shifts in behavior may signal the early stages of infection. Proactive communication and documentation at these indicators help ensure issues are caught before they escalate.

Building a Culture of Everyday Prevention

The most successful infection prevention programs aren't built on a single policy or product. They're built on culture, where every staff member understands their role in maintaining a safe, sanitary environment and where reporting issues is encouraged, not discouraged.

Facilities that perform well in this area often:

• Conduct regular infection control audits
• Include non-clinical staff in training and updates
• Empower CNAs and aides to speak up when something doesn’t seem right
• Make infection control part of daily team huddles and shift transitions
• Use data to track trends and target interventions

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Long-Term Benefits Beyond Sepsis Prevention

Strong infection control benefits more than just sepsis rates. It leads to fewer hospital transfers, shorter illness durations, reduced antibiotic use, and improved CMS star ratings. It also boosts resident satisfaction and trust, especially as families become more informed about infection risk in long-term care settings.

At Qsource, we support facilities in translating infection control policies into daily practice. Our team helps assess vulnerabilities, coach staff, and develop systems that are practical, scalable, and responsive to the realities of nursing home life.