Control of Spread of Infection PDF

Control of Spread of Infection Work Health & Safety HSC- Learning Outcome 3.3 1123  2 Nosocomial Infections: Nosocomial Infections are hospit...

Control of Spread of Infection Work Health & Safety HSC- Learning Outcome 3.3 1123  2 Nosocomial Infections: Nosocomial Infections are hospital-acquired infections. - Result from delivery of health services in a healthcare setting. Clients are at increased risk. - It leads to increased healthcare costs, extended hospital stays and prolonged recovery time. - Most nosocomial infections are transmitted by health care workers and clients as a result of direct contact. Why do patients get infections in hospitals? Lower resistance to infectious micro-organisms (due to illness or disease). Exposure to an increased number of different types of disease-causing organisms.  3 FOUR (4) Different Body Defenses Against Infections: 1. Mechanical defenses 2. Physiological defenses 3. Chemical defenses 4. Immunity  4 1. Mechanical Defenses: Mechanical Defenses: The first line of defense against infections. Skin: Epithelium (epidermis), sebaceous glands, dryness. Eyes: Lacrimal gland (gland that produces tears). Saliva: Cleansing action. Respiratory Tract: Mucus, ciliated epithelium. Urinary Tract: Flushing action.  5 2. Physiological Defenses: Inflammation: Formation of Pus. Fever: Above 38°C - 40°C. Phagocytosis: The ingestion of bacteria or other foreign material by immune cells.  6 3. Chemical Defenses: Enzymes Sebaceous glands: oily substance = lowers skin pH Gastric Juice  7 4. Immunity: Immunity: the ability of the body to destroy and resist infection. It is the ability of the body to fight against disease-causing pathogens. Two types: Natural and Acquired (Vaccine)  8 Principles of Basic Infection Control: Micro-organisms move through space on air currents. Micro-organisms are transferred from one surface to another whenever objects touch, a clean item touching a less clean item becomes “dirty” – keep hands away from face, keep linens away from uniforms, an item dropped on the floor is considered dirty. Micro-organisms are transferred by gravity when one item is held above another, avoid passing dirty items over clean items.  9 Principles of Basic Infection Control (continued): Micro-organisms are released into the air on droplet nuclei whenever a person breathes or speaks – avoid breathing directly in someone’s face; when someone coughs/sneezes, cover mouth with tissue, discard, wash hands. Micro-organisms move slowly on dry surfaces, but very quickly through moisture – use paper towel to turn facets off, dry bath basin before returning to bedside table. Proper handwashing removes many of the micro-organisms that would be transferred by the hands from one item to another – always wash hands between patients.  10 Standard Precautions of Infection Control: Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin (including rashes), and mucous membranes. These measures are to be used when providing care to all individuals, whether or not they appear infectious or symptomatic. Standard Precautions Practices: 1. Hand Hygiene 2. Respiratory Hygiene (Cough Etiquette) 3. Medical Waste Disposal 4. Safe Injection Practices 5. Cleaning  11 1. Hand Hygiene (Proper Hand Washing): Is the single most important procedure for preventing the transfer of micro- organisms & therefore preventing the spread of nosocomial infections. CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends 10-15 second hand wash. This will remove most transient organisms from the skin. Steps for Proper Hand Hygiene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JrEeR5OXiE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E  12 When should hands be washed in routine care of patients? When visibly soiled. Before and after patient contact. After contact with a source of micro-organism (blood, body fluids, mucus membranes, non intact skin or inanimate objects that might be contaminated). Prior to performance of invasive procedures (IV catheters, indwelling catheters). Before and after removing gloves (wearing gloves does not remove the need to wash hands). At the beginning and end of every workday shift.  13 2. Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette: Persons with respiratory symptoms should apply source control measures (not only by person but also by healthcare facility): Cover their nose and mouth when coughing/sneezing with tissue or mask, dispose of used tissues and masks, and perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions. Place acute febrile respiratory symptomatic patients at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from others in common waiting areas, if possible. Post visual alerts at the entrance to health-care facilities instructing persons with respiratory symptoms to practice respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette. Consider making hand hygiene resources, tissues and masks available in common areas and areas used for the evaluation of patients with respiratory illnesses.  14 3. Medical Waste Disposal: Sharp items should be disposed in containers that are puncture resistant, leak-proof, closable, and labeled with the biohazard symbol or are red in color. Sharp items should be discarded immediately after each use. Sharp items should be used with engineered safety built-in devices. Sharps containers should be replaced when filled up to the indicated full line. Syringes or blood collection tube holders attached to needles must also be discarded still attached to the needles. Non-sharp disposable items saturated with blood or body fluids (i.e., fluid can be poured or squeezed from the item or fluid is flaking or dripping from the item) should be discarded into biohazard bags that are puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and labeled with a biohazard symbol or red in color.  15 Medical Waste Segregation Chart:  16 4. Safe Injection Practices: 1. Use new needle and syringe every time a medication vial or IV bag is accessed. 2. Use new needle and syringe with each injection of a patient. 3. Using medication vials for one patient only.  17 5. Cleaning: THREE (3) different processes (cleaning, disinfection and sterilization) 1. Cleaning: a process that reduces the number of contaminants. 2. Disinfection: a process that removes most pathogenic organisms. 3. Sterilization: a process that kills or removes all organisms.  Thank You 800 MyHCT (800 www.hct.ac.ae 69428)