Infection Control Principles Quiz

Study Notes

Infection control refers to methods eliminating or reducing the transmission of infectious organisms.
Standard precautions protect both practitioners and clients from potential infections.
Safe work practices and safety precautions must be demonstrated in all settings.

Cleaning: A mechanical process using soap and water to remove visible dirt and germs while also addressing invisible debris.
Sanitizing: A chemical process to reduce disease-causing germs on cleaned surfaces to safe levels. Important for both surfaces and skin cleaning.
Disinfection: Destroys harmful organisms on surfaces using specific chemical products. Required in salons in all states.
Types of Germs Killed by Disinfectants: Bacteria, viruses, and fungi; however, disinfectants do not kill bacterial spores.

OSHA: Regulates safety and health standards to protect employees, providing information about hazards.
Employer Obligations: Safety data sheets (SDS) must be available in salons for all products used.
EPA: Registers disinfectants used in the U.S., ensuring they meet required efficacy standards.
Using disinfectants contrary to the labeled instructions is illegal, and failure to comply may result in legal responsibilities.

SDS includes 16 categories of information regarding safety concerns of chemicals, their hazards, and first aid measures.
Categories cover identification, hazard info, composition, first aid, handling/storage, exposure controls, physical properties, stability, toxicity, disposal, transport, regulatory information, and revision date.

Laws: Written statutes by federal and state legislatures outlining general conduct, such as proper cleaning methods.
Rules: More specific guidelines on how laws should be followed, subject to change.

Pathogenic Bacteria: Harmful microbes that cause disease or infection.
Non-pathogenic Bacteria: Beneficial organisms with roles like preventing infections.
MRSA: A contagious staph infection common in salons, often starts as a skin infection.

Sterilization: Process eliminating all microbial life, including spores.
Efficacy: The effectiveness of a disinfectant in killing germs according to instructions.
Hospital Disinfectants: Effective for medical settings but safe for use on nonporous salon surfaces.
Types of Disinfectants: Include quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats), phenolic disinfectants, and bleach.

Implements must be cleaned of visible residue before disinfection; residues can hinder effectiveness.
Tools should be fully immersed in disinfectant for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Multi-use items can be cleaned and reused, while single-use items must be disposed of after one use.

Antiseptics: Chemical agents effective on skin, regulated by the FDA (e.g., witch hazel).
Waterless hand sanitizers only reduce microbes but do not wash away dirt; liquid soap and water are essential for proper cleansing.
Handwashing should last at least 20 seconds for maximum effectiveness.

Follow CDC guidelines which assume all human blood and body fluids are potentially infectious.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes gloves and safety glasses.
An exposure incident refers to contact with broken skin or infectious materials; contaminated items should be disposed of in sealed bags.