Infection Control Oct 2024 (1) - Phoenix PDF

# Infection Control ## Objectives At the end of the unit the students should be able to: - Discuss the body's normal defenses against infection. - Apply the principle of medical surgical asepsis. - Analyze the chain of infection. - Apply the principles of infection control precautions. - Discuss t...

# Infection Control ## Objectives At the end of the unit the students should be able to: - Discuss the body's normal defenses against infection. - Apply the principle of medical surgical asepsis. - Analyze the chain of infection. - Apply the principles of infection control precautions. - Discuss the role of infection control nurse. ## Outlines - Definitions - The body's normal defenses against infection - Asepsis - Medical and surgical asepsis - Principles of surgical asepsis - Process of sterilization - Chain of infection - Infection control precautions - Role of the infection control nurse ## Infection Control Introduction Programs of disease surveillance, generally within health care facilities, designed to investigate, prevent, and control the spread of infections and their causative microorganisms. Infection control can include the policies and procedures of a hospital or other health facility to minimize the risk of spreading of nosocomial or community-acquired to patients or members of the staff. - Prevention of the spread of microorganisms from: - Patient to Patient - Patient to Staff Member - Staff Member to Patient ## Definitions - Infection control - the set of methods used to control and prevent the spread of disease - Infections - are caused by pathogens (germs) - Communicable disease - disease spread from one person to another - Infectious disease - disease caused by a pathogen (germ or bacteria) - Contaminated - means dirty, soiled, unclean - Disinfection - cleaning so that germs (pathogens) are destroyed - Mode of transmission - the way germs are passed from one person to another ## The body's normal defenses against infection - They are divided into: - Nonspecific defenses: - The normal body flora: Normal bacteria - Normal body system defenses - Inflammation process - Specific defenses: - The immune response ## Asepsis - It means free from all living microorganisms. It is the major process for controlling infection - Aseptic technique: - It is an effort to keep the patients free from exposure to infectious pathogens as possible. - Forms of asepsis - Medical asepsis (clean technique) - Surgical asepsis ## 1- Medical Asepsis (Clean Technique) Are practices that confine or reduce the number of microorganisms, through interfering with the chain of infection in a variety of ways as (Hand washing, barrier techniques as mask, gloves, gown, and routine environmental cleaning) - Avoid removing, recapping, bending, or breaking used needles. - Place usable syringes and needles, blades and other sharp items in puncture-resistant containers. ## Principles of Surgical Asepsis - Once a sterile item touches something that is not, it is considered contaminated. - Any partially unwrapped sterile package is considered contaminated. - If there is a question about the sterility of an item, it is considered un-sterile. - A commercially packaged sterile item is not considered sterile past its expiration date. - Once a sterile item is opened, it becomes contaminated. - If a sterile item becomes wet, it is considered unsterile. - Coughing, sneezing or excessive talking over a sterile field causes contamination. - Reaching across an area that contains sterile equipment causes contamination - Sterile items that are located or lowered below waist level. ## The Process of Sterilization Sterilization is the physical and chemical techniques that destroy all microorganisms, including spores. Types of sterilization: - Physical sterilization: - Radiation (Ultraviolet) - Boiling water - Free-flowing steam (as heated vapor) - Dry heat (as oven) - Steam under pressure (autoclave) - Chemical sterilization - Through a use of antiseptic chemical solutions ## Chain of Infection - A diagram with the following parts: - Infectious agent - Reservoir - Susceptible host - Portal of exit - Mode of transmission - Portal of entry ## Infection Control Precautions There are two major categories of infection control precautions: - Standard precautions - Transmission-based precautions ## Types of Precautions A diagram with two boxes with the following text: - I. Standard Precautions - A diagram with a person next to a stop sign. - II. Transmission-based Precautions - A diagram with a person next to a magnifying glass. ## 1- Standard Precautions *It combines methods previously known as universal precautions and body substance isolation. - Universal precautions - Wash hands after touching blood, body fluids, and secretions - Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed - Wear clean non-sterile gloves - Wear a mask and eye protection and gown ## 2-Transmission-based Precautions (Isolation precaution) - Are also called isolation precautions. - Are measures for controlling the spread of infection from a patient known to be or suspected of being infected with highly transmissible pathogens. ## Role of the Infection Control Nurse - Providing **staff education** on infection control. - Reviewing infection control **policies** and **procedures**. - Reviewing patients' records and laboratory reports to recommend appropriate isolation procedures. - Consulting with occupational health department concerning recommendations to prevent and control the infection among personnel e.g. TB (tuberculosis) testing. - Gathering **statistics** regarding nosocomial infections (HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATED OR HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS). - Notifying public health department of incidence of **communicable diseases**. - Educating patients and families - Identifying infection-control problems with equipment. - Communicate with hospital and community health care personnel. ## Infection Control Will Help To - Reducing morbidity and mortality - Reducing health care costs - Improving the quality of health care service - Based on risk assessment and risk management - Once principles are well understood, it is easy to apply - Protect health care workers ## Summary At the end of the unit the students should be able to: - Discuss the body's normal defenses against infection - Apply the principle of medical surgical asepsis - Analyze the chain of infection - Apply the principles of infection control precautions - Discuss the role of infection control nurse ## References Kozier B, Erb G, Berman A, Snyder S, Abdalrahim M, Abu-Moghli F, Saleh M. (2020):Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice, Arab World Edition: England. Pearson Education Limited; ## Who Does Infection Control? - Every health care facility should have a nominated person or team to ensure Infection Control Policies and Procedures are in place. - All employees who have contact with patients or items used in the care of patients must adhere to Infection Control Policies and Procedures. Which means **YOU** do Infection Control. ## Hand Hygiene - Single most important practice to reduce transmission of infectious agents. - Includes both: - Hand washing with antiseptic soap and water - Alcohol-based products (gels, rinses, foams) without water. - A diagram with the following text: - **Your 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene** - 1. Before touching a patient - 2. Before clean/aseptic procedure - 3. After body fluid risk exposure - 4. After touching a patient - 5. After touching patient surroundings ## Types of PPE - A diagram with five boxes, arranged in a row: - **Gloves** - **Isolation gowns** - **Face protection - masks, goggles, face shields** - **Respiratory Protection - e.g. respirator with N95** - **Boots** ## 1. Standard Precautions - Prevents the transmission of common infectious agents - Hand washing is the key - Assume infectious agents could be present in the patient's - Blood - Body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat) - Non-intact skin - Mucous membranes ## PPE for Standard Precautions - A diagram with three boxes, arranged in a column. - **Gloves** - Touching - Respiratory secretions - Contaminated items - Blood or body fluids - **Mask** - Soiled clothes with patient's body fluids, secretions, or excretions - **Gown** - Possible splashes/sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions ## II Transmission-Based Precautions - **Contact transmission** - **Droplet transmission** - **Airborne transmission** ## 1) Airborne Transmission - Very small particles of evaporated droplets or dusts with infectious agents - Remain in air for a long time - Travel farther than droplets - Examples: - Tuberculosis - Measles - Chickenpox ## .. Airborne Precautions - Prevent spread of infection through inhaled airborne particles - Patient in isolation - Patient in airborne isolation room - Patient to wear a mask if outside of isolation room. ## 2) Contact Transmission - A diagram with two boxes, arranged in a column: - **Direct Contact (No Intermediate)** - Host in contact with reservoir e.g. MRSA - Skin to skin contact e.g. Scabies, herpetic whitlow - **Indirect Contact (Intermediate)** - Disease carried from reservoir to host-infected or colonized person or object. - Contaminated surfaces - electronic thermometers, glucose monitoring device. ## ..Contact Precautions - **In addition to washing hands** - Isolate of cohort patients - Gown and gloves for patient or room contact - remove immediately after contact. - Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth with hands - Avoid contaminating environmental surfaces - Wash hands immediately after patient contact - **Clean, then disinfect:** - patient room daily - Bed rails - Bedside tables - Toilet surfaces, and other equipment ## 3) Droplet Transmission - Large droplets within 3 feet or more, transmit infection through: - Coughing - Sneezing - Talking - Examples: - Bordetella pertussis (Whooping cough) - Viral infections e.g. Influenza virus, rhinovirus. - Neisseria meningitis - Mycoplasma pneumoniae ## .. Droplet Precautions - Place patients in single rooms or cohort 3 feet apart - Wear mask within 3 feet of patient - Wear face shield or goggles within 3 feet of patient - Patient wear mask when outside room.