Infection Control & PPE Quiz

Introduction to Infection Control

• Infection control encompasses essential principles for safeguarding patient and staff health in healthcare settings.
• This includes standard precautions, personal protective equipment (PPE), and environmental hygiene.

What is Infection Control?

• Infection control is the practice of preventing infectious diseases in healthcare settings and beyond.
• It uses policies and procedures to protect patients, staff, and visitors from harmful microorganisms.

Importance of Infection Control

• Patient Safety: Protects patients from infections and promotes well-being.
• Staff Safety: Minimizes healthcare worker infection risk.
• Resource Conservation: Reduces healthcare costs associated with treating infections.
• Public Health: Prevents the spread of infectious diseases within the community.

Chain of Infection: Understanding Infection Control

• Infection control is vital for healthcare; understanding the chain of infection is crucial.
• Preventing pathogens is paramount.

What is the Chain of Infection?

• The chain of infection is a model describing how infections spread.
• Each link (Infectious Agent, Reservoir, Portal of Exit, Mode of Transmission, Portal of Entry, and Susceptible Host) represents a step in the process.
• Breaking any link stops the spread.

The Six Links in the Chain

• Infectious Agents: Bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions.
• Reservoirs: Places where infectious agents live and reproduce, including humans, water, food, animals, and inanimate objects.
• Portals of Exit: Ways infectious agents leave the reservoir, such as blood, secretions, excretions, skin, respiratory system, etc.
• Modes of Transmission: Ways infectious agents move from the reservoir to the susceptible host, including physical contact, droplets, airborne, bloodborne, etc.
• Portals of Entry: Ways infectious agents enter the susceptible host, including mucous membranes, respiratory system, digestive system, broken skin, etc.
• Susceptible Host: Individuals with traits that affect their susceptibility and severity of disease. Factors include immunity, age, medical conditions, and more.

Infectious Agent: The Root Cause

• The infectious agent—bacteria, viruses, or fungi—is the cause of an infection.
• Identifying the agent is the first step in applying appropriate infection control measures.

Reservoir: Where Pathogens Reside

• Reservoirs are where pathogens live, be it humans, animals, surfaces (tables, doorknobs, equipment), and inanimate objects.
• Controlling reservoirs through sanitation reduces the spread of pathogens.
• Human carriers may show no symptoms. Animals and livestock can carry pathogens.

Portal of Exit: How Pathogens Escape

• Portals of exit allow pathogens to leave, including respiratory droplets, blood, feces, and other bodily fluids.
• Covering coughs/sneezes and proper waste disposal are important preventative measures.

Mode of Transmission: Pathways of Spread

• Transmission can be direct (touching, droplets) or indirect (contaminated surfaces, vectors).
• Direct contact involves touching or droplet spread. Indirect contact spreads pathogens via contaminated surfaces or vectors.
• Transmission spreads via different pathways, including physical contact, airborne, bloodborne, etc.

Portal of Entry: How Pathogens Gain Access

• Pathogens enter via mucous membranes or broken skin.
• Covering wounds and practicing hygiene reduces entry risk.

Susceptible Host: Who Is at Risk?

• Susceptibility depends on immunity and health.
• Immunocompromised individuals and those with certain medical conditions are at higher risk.
• Vaccination and healthy habits are important for building resistance.
• Age and health status can factor into an individual's susceptibility.

Definition of Standard Precautions

• Standard precautions are infection control practices used universally for all patients, regardless of their suspected or confirmed infection status.

Principles of Standard Precautions

• Hand Hygiene: Washing hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wearing appropriate protective equipment—gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection.
• Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection: Maintaining a clean and disinfected environment to reduce germ spread.
• Safe Injection Practices: Following proper procedures for administering injections to avoid needlestick injuries.
• Safe Handling of Sharps: Proper disposal of sharps is vital.

Hand Hygiene

• Hand hygiene is the single most critical infection control measure to prevent microorganism spread.

Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs

• Alcohol-based hand rubs are effective alternatives to soap and water when handwashing is not readily available.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE (specialized clothing/equipment) protects healthcare workers from infectious agents and bodily fluids.
• Types of PPE include gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection.

Proper Use of PPE

• Donning: Putting on PPE in a specific order for optimal protection.
• Doffing: Removing PPE in a specific order to avoid self-contamination.
• Disposal: Properly discarding PPE as outlined by established guidelines.

Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette

• Respiratory hygiene practices help prevent the spread of respiratory infections through coughs and sneezes.
• Covering coughs and sneezes, and proper waste disposal, are vital.

Safe Injection Practices

• Safe injection practices are vital to prevent needlestick injuries and the spread of bloodborne infections.
• Proper procedures for administering injections must be followed.

Sharps Safety

• Sharps safety practices prevent needlestick injuries and ensure the proper disposal of sharps, protecting healthcare workers.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection

• Environmental cleaning and disinfection eliminate infectious microorganisms from surfaces and equipment.
• Proper cleaning and disinfection procedures should be followed using appropriate cleaning/disinfectant supplies and materials.

Principles of Cleaning and Disinfection

• Cleaning removes visible dirt and debris.
• Disinfection eliminates most microorganisms using chemical agents.

Cleaning Supplies and Equipment

• A range of cleaning supplies and equipment are used in healthcare settings to maintain cleanliness and ensure proper cleaning/disinfection.

Handling Textiles and Laundry

• Textiles and laundry can pose infection risks. Handling and disposal require proper procedures.
• Proper laundry procedures, including washing and appropriate disposal procedures, are essential.

Waste Management

• Healthcare waste management involves carefully disposing of various waste types to prevent infection and environmental contamination.
• Different waste types have different disposal procedures.

Transmission-Based Precautions

• Additional infection control measures when a person has or is suspected of having a specific infectious disease.
  • Contact Precautions – for those pathogens transmitted through close or indirect contact.
  • Droplet Precautions – for those pathogens spread through large droplets produced through coughing, sneezing, etc.
  • Airborne Precautions – for those pathogens that remain in the air.

Occupational Health and Safety

• Healthcare worker protection programs against workplace infections and hazards.

Post-Exposure Management

• Healthcare workers must be aware of risk and follow post-exposure protocols.

Immunization and Screening

• Immunization and screening programs significantly contribute to infection control by preventing the occurrence and spread of infections.

• Vaccination and screening programs prevent the spread of infectious diseases.