Infection Control

1. Infection Control

2. Microorganisms • Microorganisms are small living bodies that are not visible to the naked eye. • Nonpathogens - maintain body processes • Pathogens – cause infection and disease • Classes of microorganisms: • Bacteria • Protozoa • Fungi • Viruses

3. Bacteria • Bacteria are one-celled microorganisms that are classified by shape. • Spores are thick-walled cells created by bacteria to aid in reproduction and to make the bacteria resistant to harsh environments. Spores can result in serious illness. • Diseases - food poisoning, strep throat, tetanus, syphilis, and cholera

4. Protozoa • Protozoa are the simplest organisms in the animal kingdom. • Most protozoa need moisture to survive, so they are often found in watery environments. • Diseases - malaria, dysentery, and African sleeping sickness

5. Fungi • Fungi are plant-like microorganisms that can be found in the air, in soil, on plants, or in water. • There are thousands of types of fungi, including mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. Only about half of these types of fungi are pathogenic. • Diseases - athlete’s foot, ringworm, yeast infections, and thrush

6. Viruses • Viruses are the smallest type of microorganism. They are made up of only a few molecules. • Viruses invade the cells of a living organism where they reproduce more viruses. • Diseases - common cold, chicken pox, measles, herpes, hepatitis B and C, HIV, and AIDS

7. Classification of Infections and Diseases • Endogenous – begins inside the body • Exogenous – caused by something outside the body • Nosocomial – acquired by an individual within a health care facility • Opportunistic – occur when the body’s defenses are weak

8. Infectious and Communicable Diseases • An infectious disease results from an invasion of microorganisms. • A communicable disease is a type of infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another person. • Not all infectious diseases are communicable.

9. Chain of Infection • Causative agent • Reservoir • Portal of exit • Mode of transmission • Portal of entry • Susceptible host

10. Mode of Transmission • Airborne Transmission • Bloodborne Transmission • Vectorborne Transmission • Sexual Transmission • Foodborne Transmission • Casual Contact

11. Asepsis • Asepsis is a condition that is free of pathogens. • Maintaining asepsis in a health care facility is the primary way to prevent the spread of disease from person to person. • It works by breaking the chain of infection.

12. Medical and Surgical Asepsis • Medical asepsis is maintaining a clean environment in order to reduce the number of pathogens. It is also called cleantechnique. • Surgical asepsis is maintaining a sterile field that is free from all microorganisms and spores. It is also known as steriletechnique.

13. Sterilizing • Sterilization is the highest level of asepsis. • Sterilization is a type of surgical asepsis that kills all microorganisms, including viruses and spores. • The most common piece of equipment used for sterilization is called an autoclave.

14. Disinfecting • Disinfection is a type of medical asepsis that destroys most pathogens, but is not always effective on viruses and spores. • Common disinfectant solutions include chlorine and bleach. An object must soak in a disinfectant solution for at least 20 minutes to be properly disinfected.

15. Cleaning • Cleaning is the lowest level of asepsis, and is also called sanitization. • The cleaning process does not require harsh chemicals to destroy pathogens, so cleaning can be used on people. • Antiseptic solutions such as iodine, betadine, and alcohol are often used in the cleaning process.

16. Hand Washing • Hand washing is the most basic and important type of medical asepsis. • Hand washing is the number one way to prevent the spread of infection.

17. Handwashing • When arriving at the health care facility and immediately before leaving the facility • Before and after every patient contact • Before and after a procedure • Before and after handling a specimen • Before and after touching the mouth • Before and after wearing gloves. • After contacting soiled or contaminated items • After picking up any item from the floor • After using the bathroom • After coughing, sneezing, or using a tissue

18. Handwashing • Use liquid soap • Use warm water • Rub hands together firmly • Clean all surfaces of the hands • Keep fingers pointed downward • Wash for at least 15 to 20 seconds • Use only dry paper towels to dry hands

19. Standard Precautions for Patient Contact • Use appropriate personal protective equipment • Wash hands frequently • Bandage cuts properly • Use face shields during CPR

20. Precautions for Environmental Cleanliness • Place sharps in puncture-proof biohazardous waste containers • Clean up spills immediately • Discard infectious waste in biohazardous waste bags • Place contaminated linens in biohazardous laundry bags

21. Masks and Eyewear • Masks and eyewear must be worn for procedures that may produce splashes or sprays of blood or bodily fluid. • Masks should be worn once and then discarded into biohazardous waste containers. • Eyewear is often reusable. However, it must be cleaned and disinfected before reuse.

22. Gowns • Gowns should be worn when using chemical solutions and during procedures where splashing or spraying of blood and bodily fluid is likely. • Disposable gown should be placed into biohazardous waste containers after use. • Non-disposable gowns may be placed into biohazardous linens bags.

23. Non-Sterile Gloves • Non-sterile gloves should be worn when contacting blood or other bodily fluids and when handling or cleaning contaminated items. • The same pair of gloves should never be worn in more than one procedure. • Wearing gloves should never replace washing hands.

24. Using PPE • Order for donning PPE • Mask and eyewear • Gown • Gloves • Order for removing PPE • Gloves • Gown • Mask and eyewear • Always wash hands before donning the items and immediately after removing them.

25. Communicable Diseases • A communicable disease is a type of infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another person. • Some communicable diseases are spread through direct contact. Others may be spread through indirect contact.

26. Transmission of Communicable Diseases • Not all communicable diseases are transmitted the same way. • There are many different types of communicable diseases, and health care workers must become familiar with the mode of transmission for each disease.

27. Transmission-Based Precautions • Transmission-based precautions are used only with patients who have been diagnosed with highly communicable diseases. • Three types: • Airborne • Droplet • Contact

28. Airborne Precautions • Airborne precautions are used for patients with disease that are spread through tiny airborne droplets. • Precautions: • Isolation room • Respiratory protection • Negative pressure • Examples of diseases: • Tuberculosis • Chicken pox

29. Droplet Precautions • Droplet precautions are used for patients with diseases that are spread through large airborne droplets. • Precautions: • Isolation room • Standard surgical masks • Examples of diseases: • Pneumonia • Influenza • Whooping cough

30. Contact Precautions • Contact precautions are used for patients with diseases that are spread through direct and indirect contact. • Precautions: • Isolation room • Gowns and gloves • Equipment precautions • Examples of diseases: • MRSA • VRE

31. Transmission-Based Garments • Special care must be taken when removing transmission-based garments because the items may be contaminated with highly infectious pathogens. • Transmission-based garments must be removed and disposed inside the door of the patient’s room. • Health care workers must not touch the outer surface of any protective garments.