Infection Control

Infection Control

Overview You will learn about: • The chain of infection • Standard precautions and transmission-based precautions • Proper hand cleansing techniques • Sterile technique

What do you know about… • Infection control? • Why is it important in health care facilities?

Lesson 1 – Microorganisms • Microorganisms are small living bodies that are not visible to the naked eye. • Nonpathogens - maintain body processes • Pathogens – cause infection and disease • Classes of microorganisms: • Bacteria • Protozoa • Fungi • Viruses

Lesson 1 – Bacteria • Bacteria are one-celled microorganisms that are classified by shape. • Spores are thick-walled cells created by bacteria to aid in reproduction and to make the bacteria resistant to harsh environments. Spores can result in serious illness. • Diseases - food poisoning, strep throat, tetanus, syphilis, and cholera

Lesson 1 – Protozoa • Protozoa are the simplest organisms in the animal kingdom. • Most protozoa need moisture to survive, so they are often found in watery environments. • Diseases - malaria, dysentery, and African sleeping sickness

Lesson 1 – Fungi • Fungi are plant-like microorganisms that can be found in the air, in soil, on plants, or in water. • There are thousands of types of fungi, including mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. Only about half of these types of fungi are pathogenic. • Diseases - athlete’s foot, ringworm, yeast infections, and thrush

Lesson 1 – Viruses • Viruses are the smallest type of microorganism. They are made up of only a few molecules. • Viruses invade the cells of a living organism where they reproduce more viruses • Diseases - common cold, chicken pox, measles, herpes, hepatitis B and C, HIV, and AIDS

Lesson 2 – Classification of Infections and Diseases • Endogenous – begins inside the body • Exogenous – caused by something outside the body • Nosocomial – acquired by an individual within a health care facility • Opportunistic – occur when the body’s defenses are weak

Lesson 2 – Infectious and Communicable Diseases • An infectious disease results from an invasion of microorganisms. • A communicable disease is a type of infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another person. • Not all infectious diseases are communicable.

Lesson 2 – Chain of Infection • Causative agent • Reservoir • Portal of exit • Mode of transmission • Portal of entry • Susceptible host

Lesson 2 – Mode of Transmission • Airborne Transmission • Bloodborne Transmission • Vectorborne Transmission • Sexual Transmission • Foodborne Transmission • Casual Contact

Lesson 3 – Asepsis • Asepsis is a condition that is free of pathogens. • Maintaining asepsis in a health care facility is the primary way to prevent the spread of disease from person to person. • It works by breaking the chain of infection.

Lesson 3 – Medical and Surgical Asepsis • Medical asepsis is maintaining a clean environment in order to reduce the number of pathogens. It is also called cleantechnique. • Surgical asepsis is maintaining a sterile field that is free from all microorganisms and spores. It is also known as steriletechnique.

Lesson 3 – Sterilizing • Sterilization is the highest level of asepsis. • Sterilization is a type of surgical asepsis that kills all microorganisms, including viruses and spores. • The most common piece of equipment used for sterilization is called an autoclave.

Lesson 3 – Disinfecting • Disinfection is a type of medical asepsis that destroys most pathogens, but is not always effective on viruses and spores. • Common disinfectant solutions include chlorine and bleach. An object must soak in a disinfectant solution for at least 20 minutes to be properly disinfected.

Lesson 3 – Cleaning • Cleaning is the lowest level of asepsis, and is also called sanitization. • The cleaning process does not require harsh chemicals to destroy pathogens, so cleaning can be used on people. • Antiseptic solutions such as iodine, betadine, and alcohol are often used in the cleaning process.

Lesson 4 – Hand Washing • Hand washing is the most basic and important type of medical asepsis. • Hand washing is the number one way to prevent the spread of infection.

Lesson 4 – Handwashing • When arriving at the health care facility and immediately before leaving the facility • Before and after every patient contact • Before and after a procedure • Before and after handling a specimen • Before and after touching the mouth • Before and after wearing gloves. • After contacting soiled or contaminated items • After picking up any item from the floor • After using the bathroom • After coughing, sneezing, or using a tissue

Lesson 4 – Handwashing • Use liquid soap • Use warm water • Rub hands together firmly • Clean all surfaces of the hands • Keep fingers pointed downward • Wash for at least 15 to 20 seconds • Use only dry paper towels to dry hands

Lesson 7 – Standard Precautions • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention developed a list of standard precautions that should be used for all patients, regardless of their type of illness. • Two reasons for standard precautions: • To protect health care workers • To protect patients

Lesson 7 – Standard Precautions for Patient Contact • Use appropriate personal protective equipment • Wash hands frequently • Bandage cuts properly • Use face shields during CPR

Lesson 7 – Precautions for Environmental Cleanliness • Place sharps in puncture-proof biohazardous waste containers • Clean up spills immediately • Discard infectious waste in biohazardous waste bags • Place contaminated linens in biohazardous laundry bags

Lesson 8 – Gowns • Gowns should be worn when using chemical solutions and during procedures where splashing or spraying of blood and bodily fluid is likely. • Disposable gowns should be placed into biohazardous waste containers after use. • Non-disposable gowns may be placed into biohazardous linens bags.

Lesson 9 – Masks and Eyewear • Masks and eyewear must be worn for procedures that may produce splashes or sprays of blood or bodily fluid. • Masks should be worn once and then discarded into biohazardous waste containers. • Eyewear is often reusable. However, it must be cleaned and disinfected before reuse.

Lesson 10 – Non-Sterile Gloves • Non-sterile gloves should be worn when contacting blood or other bodily fluids and when handling or cleaning contaminated items. • The same pair of gloves should never be worn in more than one procedure. • Wearing gloves should never replace washing hands.

Lesson 12 – Communicable Diseases • A communicable disease is a type of infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another person. • Some communicable diseases are spread through direct contact. Others may be spread through indirect contact.

Lesson 12 – Transmission of Communicable Diseases • Not all communicable diseases are transmitted the same way. • There are many different types of communicable diseases, and health care workers must become familiar with the mode of transmission for each disease.

Lesson 12 – Transmission-Based Precautions • Transmission-based precautions are used only with patients who have been diagnosed with highly communicable diseases. • Three types: • Airborne • Droplet • Contact

Lesson 12 – Airborne Precautions • Airborne precautions are used for patients with disease that are spread through tiny airborne droplets. • Precautions: • Isolation room • Respiratory protection • Negative pressure • Examples of diseases: • Tuberculosis • Chicken pox

Lesson 12 – Droplet Precautions • Droplet precautions are used for patients with diseases that are spread through large airborne droplets. • Precautions: • Isolation room • Standard surgical masks • Examples of diseases: • Pneumonia • Influenza • Whooping cough

Lesson 12 – Contact Precautions • Contact precautions are used for patients with diseases that are spread through direct and indirect contact. • Precautions: • Isolation room • Gowns and gloves • Equipment precautions • Examples of diseases: • MRSA • VRE

Lesson 13 – Transmission-Based Garments • When health care workers enter isolation rooms, they must wear transmission-based garments. • Health care workers must wear appropriate garments based on the disease of the patient.

Lesson 13 –Protective Garments • Order for donning PPE • Gown • Mask • Eyewear • Gloves • Order for removing PPE • Gloves • Eyewear • Gown • Mask • Always cleanse hands before donning the items and immediately after removing them. • Health care workers must not touch the outer surface of any protective garments.

Lesson 14 – Isolation Units • Patients with communicable diseases are often placed into private rooms for isolation. • This practice helps prevent the spread of communicable diseases to health care workers and other patients.

Lesson 14 – Meals in an Isolation Unit • Most facilities require that disposable food trays and eating utensils are used in isolation units. • Leftover food and beverages should never be taken out of an isolation unit. Liquids and soft foods should be flushed down the toilet. Solid foods should be placed in biohazardous waste bags.

Lesson 14 – Working in an Isolation Unit • Most of the procedures that take place in isolation units require two health care workers. • Items that are taken from isolation rooms are double-bagged to prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens.

Questions • What risks do you take by not wearing gloves? • What situations do you need to remember to wear PPE? • How does forgetting to put gloves on affect your patient’s confidence in her as a medical professional?

Lesson 16 – Sterile Technique • Sterile technique, also called surgical asepsis, is maintaining an area that is free from all microorganisms • Sterile technique must be practiced for all invasive procedures to protect patients from infection. • To maintain a sterile area, only sterile items may touch other sterile items.

Lesson 16 – Sterile Fields • Sterile fields are areas that are set up for procedures and are free from microorganisms. • A sterile field is usually a tray covered with a small sterile towel. The tray contains equipment and supplies for a specific procedure.

Lesson 16 – Working with Sterile Fields • Create sterile field in a clean, uncluttered area • Never reach across a sterile field • Keep your eyes on a sterile field at all times • Keep the sterile field dry • Create the sterile field again if you suspect that it has become contaminated

Lesson 16 – Sterile Packages • Most of the items used to create a sterile field are pre-packaged in sterile wraps. • A sterile package must be opened with care. The outside of the package is considered contaminated, but the inside is sterile. • Only sterile items, such as a sterile transfer forceps, may touch the inside of a sterile package.

Lesson 17 – Sterile Glove • Sterile gloves are a key tool in maintaining a sterile field. • Sterile gloves should be worn whenever health care workers treat an open wound, perform an invasive procedure, or apply a dressing.

Reflect – Unit Questions • The common cold is a virus. Beginning with the causative agent, explain how the cold could be passed from one person to another through the chain. • Describe how you would decide which level of asepsis is needed for a piece of equipment and how each level of asepsis could be attained. • In what work situations should a health care worker wash their hands? What are some ways that you can apply proper hand washing hygiene outside of work? • Identify the standard precautions that should be applied if you must change the bandage of a patient with a seeping wound. What precautions should you take to clean up blood from an examination room?

Reflect – Key Questions • What is infection control? • Why is infection control important in health care facilities?

Reinforce Project Microorganisms Experiment • You will use Petri dishes to observe the growth of microorganisms.

Infection Control