Phlebotomy Course: Infection Prevention & Safety (PDF)

University of Sharjah College of Health Sciences MLS Department Phlebotomy Course CHAPTER 2: General Rules For Infection Prevention & Safety Course Material Prepared by Instructor: Omar Chebbo, MSc. MS, H (ASCP),...

University of Sharjah College of Health Sciences MLS Department Phlebotomy Course CHAPTER 2: General Rules For Infection Prevention & Safety Course Material Prepared by Instructor: Omar Chebbo, MSc. MS, H (ASCP), C (ASCP) PowerPoint Presentation Prepared by Instructor: Dana Salahat, MLS, MSc Infection Prevention  Alone, no approach is 100% effective to protect against infection from blood-borne pathogens. These pathogens include, but are not limited to:  HIV  HBV  HCV PPE  The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), employee work practices, and adherence to safety standards, engineering controls*, vaccination, and training must all be used together. Engineering Controls in Healthcare  Protect workers by removing hazardous conditions OR by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard. Examples include local exhaust ventilation to capture and remove airborne emissions or machine guards to shield the worker. Regular training and evaluation can help ensure that selected controls are successful Communicable Diseases  Diseases are transmitted from one person (or animal) to another are called communicable diseases or infections.  The transmission of the agent of an infectious disease from its source to a susceptible individual is called chain of infection: Source of infection  means of transmission  susceptible host.  Prevention of Disease Transmission  To prevent disease transmission  the chain has to be broken anywhere along its links.  The chain can be broken by: Sterilization Immunization Aseptic techniques  It involves applying the strictest rules (practices and procedures) to minimize the risk of infection. Hand washings Wearing gloves Isolation procedures. Mode of Transmission of Diseases  In general, there are 5 routes in which infectious agents are transmitted.  The routes are: 1. Droplet transmission 2. Airborne transmission 3. Contact transmission (direct and indirect) 4. Vehicle transmission 5. Vector-borne transmission.  1. Droplet Transmission  Droplets containing microorganisms are propelled a short distance through the air and deposited on a susceptible individual’s eyes, nasal mucosa, or mouth.  In addition to coughing and sneezing as examples of droplet transmission, centrifugation and popping of specimen contained tops are also responsible for droplet formation.  2. Airborne Transmission  Should not be confused with droplet transmission.  This transmission occurs by droplet that have evaporated and still contains viable organism.  These droplets remain suspended in the air for a long period of time.  Infectious agents carried in this manner can be dispersed by air current and can be inhaled by susceptible individual in the same room or over longer distance.  Examples include mycobacterium tuberculosis and some fungal infections. 3. Contact Transmission  This transmission can be either by a direct contact or by indirect contact.  In direct contact: The causative agent is passed from one individual directly to another individual. A direct body-membrane-to-body-membrane contact.  Examples, infections with:  Syphilis  Gonorrhea  Hepatitis B virus  HIV  Also shaking hands and kissing are the primary cause for respiratory infections.  Indirect contact: Individual can be exposed to infectious agents through contact with an inanimate object.  Examples of this include:  Blood collection tubes.  Telephone handsets.  Pencils and pens that are contaminated on the outside with infectious agents.  Also, accidental needle sticks, sharing needles by drug abusers, and gloves that are not changed between patients are other examples. 4. Vehicle Transmission  When microorganism is transmitted by contaminated items such as:  Food  Water  Medications  Salmonellosis and Shigellosis in food  Hepatitis A and Salmonellosis in water  E. coli in poorly cooked meat 5. Vector-Borne Transmission  Occurs when arthropods, referred to as a vector, transfer an organism.  Examples:  Malaria and encephalitis, which are transmitted by mosquitoes.  Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks.  Terminology Nosocomial Infections that are acquired by individuals after infections admission into a healthcare setting. Community– Infections that may be contracted outside of a acquired infections healthcare setting. Nosohusial infections Infections care. that are acquired in the course of home Handwashing  Proper washing of the hands is the most effective tool against the spread of disease caused by microorganism.  Of all safety precautions in health care setting, handwashing is the easiest to perform but it seems to be the easiest for health care workers to ignore.  In the United States, there are more than 2,400,000 nosocomial infections each year.  Hands should always be washed following occasions: Before putting on and after removing gloves Before and after any patient care not requiring gloves Whenever hands are soiled After wiping and blowing you nose After going to the toilet Before eating or drinking After any cleaning activity Before leaving work area Thank you!