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Clinical. Standard Procedures for Preventing the Spread of Infection. Infection Control. Break the chain of infection Most effective method is to control the mode of transmission If microorganisms can’t get from the reservoir to the susceptible host, no infection will occur.
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Clinical Standard Procedures for Preventing the Spread of Infection
Infection Control • Break the chain of infection • Most effective method is to control the mode of transmission • If microorganisms can’t get from the reservoir to the susceptible host, no infection will occur
Infection Control • First line of defense – Personal Cleanliness • Must prevent the carrying of infectious organisms between home and work • May leave scrubs or lab coat at work • Wash clothes regularly • Practice good personal hygiene • Keep shoes clean
Asepsis A state in which pathogens are absent or reduced. • Two principal types • Medical Asepsis • Surgical Asepsis
Medical Asepsis Killing germs after they leave the body • Purpose: to reduce the number of microorganisms • Washing hands • Disinfecting countertops after testing • Providing and using a tissue when you cough or sneeze • Disinfecting all items that come in contact with patients (ex waiting room, exam bed, stethoscope, etc) • Disposing of garbage frequently • Making sure waiting area is well ventilated • Keeping small groupings of seating in waiting area • Removing samples to the storage area quickly and handling them with gloves • It is also good to encourage staff who are ill not to come into work
Surgical Asepsis Destroying pathogens before they can enter the body • AKA Sterilization • Uses physical and chemical processes to remove all life from any equipment and instruments that will come in contact with patients • Once items have been sterilized, it is important to practice sterile technique – avoid touching any part of the item that is considered sterile
Three Levels of Hygiene • Sanitization: Removal of some of the gross contaminants and some microorganisms from instruments, skin, and so on • Disinfection: More thorough removal of contaminants than sanitization but less thorough than sterilization • Sterilization: Highest level of medical hygiene
Sanitization • First step in the cleaning process • Removes some pathogenic organisms, blood and tissue debris • Often all that is needed to clean objects that only come in contact with intact skin • Sanitizers are specially formulated, nonabrasive, low-sudsing detergents with a neutral pH • Objects should be sanitized immediately so fluids don’t dry on.
Sanitization • Procedure • Rinse thoroughly in cold water • Make sure you clean all surfaces • Use gloves • Avoid “sharps” • Place each instrument to dry - they should not touch
Disinfection • The second step in the cleaning process • Disinfectants come in various strengths • Low-level: kill most bacteria and some fungi, inactivate some viruses • Useful for linens, instruments that contact intact skin etc • Intermediate: effective against most viruses and fungi, kill most bacteria, not effective against spores • Useful for items that come in contact with a patient’s mucous membranes (ex specula)
Disinfection • High Level: Used for articles that need the highest possible level of pathogen reduction, but cannot withstand the sterilization process • Used for anesthetic, respiratory and endoscopic equipment
Disinfection • Methods of disinfecting • Ultraviolet: environmentally safe and wide range • Moist Heat: Boiling to a temperature of 100°C for 30 min (does not kill all pathogens) • Antiseptics and disinfectant chemicals: • disinfectants (bleach) are more wide range but are also often too harsh for use on human tissue – antiseptics are gentler (isopropyl alcohol, betadine) • Disinfectants are bactericidal, antiseptics are bacteriostatic
Sterilization • Last step in cleaning process • Methods • Chemical sterilization: used for heat sensitive equipment • Involves the use of a substance known as a sterilant (chlorine, Cidex) • Dry heat: objects are exposed to temperatures of 160°C to 170°C for at least 2 hours • Used for objects that cannot withstand moisture • Gas sterilization: toxic gasses that kill all life in a gas chamber • Only used with extreme caution and for items that cannot be sterilized any other way
Sterilization • Steam Autoclave: uses pressurized steam at 121°C to 132°C for 30 or 40 min • Items can be autoclaved wrapped if they are to be stored for longer periods of time • Autoclave indicators may be included to demonstrate sterility
Sterilization • Autoclave tape demonstrates that an item was brought to the correct temperature
Sterilization • Chemical and biological indicators can be used to show that the appropriate temperature was reached for the appropriate length of time, and to prove sterilization was achieved.