Laboratory Safety and Infection Control
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Questions and Answers

What is a susceptible host and what are some factors that contribute to it?

A susceptible host is someone with a decreased ability to resist infection. Factors that contribute to it include age, health, and immune status.

What is the primary purpose of an infection-control program?

To protect patients, employees, visitors, and others from infection, and to break the chain of infection.

What are the two primary methods of hand hygiene mentioned in the content?

The two primary methods of hand hygiene are the use of alcohol-based antiseptic hand cleaners and hand washing.

What is the correct order for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?

<p>The correct order for donning PPE is 1. Gown, 2. Mask, 3. Gloves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of surveillance in an infection-control program?

<p>The purpose of surveillance is to monitor and collect data on all infections occurring in the institution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct order for removing personal protective equipment (PPE)?

<p>The correct order for removing PPE is 1. Gloves, 2. Gown, 3. Mask.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a biohazard and how is it identified?

<p>A biohazard is any material or substance harmful to health, and it is identified by a biohazard symbol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the common routes of biohazard exposure?

<p>The common routes of biohazard exposure are airborne, ingestion, nonintact skin, percutaneous (through the skin), and permucosal (through mucous membranes).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the exposure hazards of Hepatitis B virus (HBV)?

<p>HBV can be found in blood and other body fluids, can survive up to a week on objects, and is transmitted via needlesticks, sexual contact.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the requirements for an Exposure Control Plan?

<p>The plan must be written, reviewed and updated at least annually, and nonmanagerial employees with a risk of exposure must be involved in its identification, review, and selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the exposure routes of Blood-Borne Pathogens (BBP)?

<p>The exposure routes of BBP include skin pierced by a contaminated needle or sharp object, blood or other body fluid splashing in eyes, nose, or mouth, and blood or other body fluid contacting cut, scratch, or abrasion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps to take in case of a needlestick or other sharps injury?

<p>Carefully remove shards of glass or other objects, and wash the site with soap and water for at least 30 seconds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if a splash of chemical or body fluid gets into your eyes?

<p>Flush your eyes with water or sterile saline for at least 10 minutes, and use an eyewash station if available.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct solution to use for surface decontamination in specimen collection and processing areas?

<p>A 1:10 bleach solution or other disinfectant approved by the EPA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you experience electrical shock?

<p>Shut off the source of electricity, or use a non-conducting item to remove the source of electricity from the victim.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three components necessary for a fire to occur?

<p>Fuel, heat, and oxygen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of fire requires a non-conducting agent to extinguish?

<p>Class C fire, involving electrical equipment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of laboratory safety?

<p>Ensuring the health and safety of workers and researchers in laboratory settings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when handling chemicals?

<p>Wear PPE, clean up chemical spills properly, and never store chemicals above eye level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an infection, and what are the types of microbes that can cause it?

<p>An infection occurs when a microorganism invades the body, multiplies, and causes injury or disease. The types of microbes that can cause infection include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the main components of OSHA's Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard?

<p>HazCom labeling requirements and Material Safety Data Sheets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are communicable diseases, and which organization investigates and controls them?

<p>Communicable diseases are diseases that can be spread from person to person, and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) investigates and controls them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a spill cleanup kit?

<p>To provide the necessary materials to properly clean up chemical spills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should you do in case of a fire?

<p>Follow the procedures outlined in the facility's fire safety plan, including evacuating the area and calling for assistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are nosocomial and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and how many cases occur each year?

<p>Nosocomial and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired in hospitals and other healthcare settings, and approximately 1.7 million cases occur each year, resulting in 99,000 associated deaths.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to keep components of the fire tetrahedron apart?

<p>To prevent fires from occurring by denying one or more of the necessary components: fuel, heat, and oxygen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the six components of the chain of infection?

<p>The six components of the chain of infection are: 1) infectious (causative) agent, 2) reservoir, 3) exit pathway, 4) means of transmission, 5) entry pathway, and 6) susceptible host.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a reservoir in the chain of infection?

<p>Examples of reservoirs include humans, animals, food, water, soil, and equipment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a means of transmission in the chain of infection?

<p>Examples of means of transmission include airborne, contact, direct, indirect, droplet, vector, and vehicle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an entry pathway in the chain of infection?

<p>Examples of entry pathways include body orifices, mucous membranes, and breaks in skin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Laboratory Safety

  • Laboratories are hazardous environments with potential risks including chemical spills, fires, explosions, and exposure to hazardous substances.

Infection Control

  • Infection: when a microorganism invades the body, multiplies, and causes injury or disease.
  • Microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.
  • A pathogen is a microbe capable of causing disease.
  • Types of infections: communicable, nosocomial, and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
  • HAIs: 1.7 million cases and 99,000 associated deaths occur each year, caused by infected personnel, patients, visitors, food, drugs, or equipment.

Chain of Infection

    1. Infectious agent: pathogenic microbe responsible for causing an infection.
    1. Reservoir: source of infectious agent, where microbe can survive and grow or multiply (humans, animals, food, water, soil, equipment).
    1. Exit pathway: way an infectious agent leaves a reservoir host (secretions, exudates, tissue specimens, blood, feces, urine).
    1. Means of transmission: airborne, contact, direct, indirect, droplet, vector, vehicle (food, water, drugs).
    1. Entry pathway: way an infectious agent enters a susceptible host (body orifices, mucous membranes, breaks in skin).
    1. Susceptible host: someone with a decreased ability to resist infection (age, health, immune status).

Breaking the Chain of Infection

  • Hand washing, nutrition, rest, stress reduction, immunization, insect and rodent control, isolation procedures, decontamination of surfaces and instruments, disposal of sharps and infectious waste, use of gloves, gowns, masks, and respirators, and needle safety devices.

Infection-Control Program

  • Protects patients, employees, visitors, and others by breaking the chain of infection.
  • Monitors and collects data on all infections occurring in an institution.
  • Institutes special precautions in the event of outbreaks.
  • Components: employee screening and immunization, evaluation and treatment, surveillance.

Infection-Control Methods

  • Hand hygiene: use of alcohol-based antiseptic hand cleaners and hand washing.
  • Personal protective equipment: gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, face shields, and goggles, respirators.

Biosafety

  • Biohazard: any material or substance harmful to health, identified by a biohazard symbol.
  • Biohazard exposure routes: airborne, ingestion, nonintact skin, percutaneous, permucosal.
  • Blood-borne pathogens: hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus.
  • Exposure control plan: must be written, reviewed, and updated annually, involving nonmanagerial employees with risk of exposure.

Exposure Incident Procedure

  • Needlestick or other sharps injury: wash site with soap and water, then report incident to immediate supervisor and provider for evaluation and treatment.
  • Mucous membrane exposure: flush site with water or sterile saline, then report incident to immediate supervisor and provider for evaluation and treatment.

Electrical Safety

  • Actions to take if electrical shock occurs: shut off source of electricity, use a nonconducting item to remove source of electricity from victim, call for medical assistance, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if indicated, and keep the victim warm.

Fire Safety

  • All employees should know procedures to follow in case of fire, location of fire extinguishers and how to use them, location of fire blankets or heavy towels and how to use them, and location of emergency exits and evacuation routes.
  • Components needed for fire to occur: fuel, heat, oxygen, and a chemical reaction.
  • Fire tetrahedron: fuel, heat, oxygen, and a chemical reaction.
  • Classes of fire: Class A (ordinary combustible materials), Class B (flammable liquids and vapors), Class C (electrical equipment), Class D (combustible or reactive metals), and Class K (high-temperature cooking oils, grease, or fats).

Chemical Safety

  • General rules: wear PPE, clean up chemical spills properly, never store chemicals above eye level, and never add water to acid.
  • OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard: HazCom labeling requirements, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
  • Spill cleanup kit: necessary materials for cleaning up chemical spills.

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Learn about the hazards in laboratory environments and principles of infection control, including types of infections and pathogens.

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