Care homes may face challenges in implementing infection
prevention and control guidance. Some care homes do
not have en suite toilets, making isolation more difficult. Safe
management of human waste may be difficult if automated
sluice machines are not available. Loose stools are very
common in elderly care home residents and it may be difficult
for staff to differentiate between ‘normal’ loose stools,
and potentially infectious diarrhoea. Care homes face conflicting
priorities, such as the need for isolation and barrier
nursing versus residents’ quality of life and a sense of
‘homeliness’. However, where disposal of faeces and diarrhoea
is concerned there should be no room for complacency,
and some of the practices reported undermine the
dignity of residents.