Challenges in Community and Home Care Setting – Perspectives from SingHealth

Date: 14 Oct 2026 | Time: 1245 - 1305 | Venue: Level 1, L1-S1, Academia (SGH Campus)

Track: Session 4.2 Community IPC

Speaker:

Overview:

Infection prevention in community and home care settings present distinct challenges that differ significantly from those encountered in hospital environments. Key factors include variable environmental conditions such as inconsistent cleanliness, limited physical space, and inadequate ventilation. These factors can compromise the effectiveness of standard infection control measures typically implemented in more controlled hospital settings. Moreover, patient and household health literacy levels vary widely, which can affect understanding and adherence to infection prevention measures. Inconsistent compliance with recommended practices, compounded by cultural and language differences, further complicates efforts to maintain effective infection control in these settings. 

At Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), the community nursing team acknowledges these complexities and adopts a tailored approach to infection prevention. By customising evidence-based practices to align with the unique circumstances of each patient’s living environment, SKH ensures that infection control measures are both practical and effective. Additionally, SKH emphasises the importance of fostering strong collaboration among healthcare providers, patients, their families, and community partners. This integrated, adaptive strategy is designed to deliver safe, consistent, and sustainable care that extends beyond the hospital, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and community health.