Infection Control

1. Infection Control

2. Healthcare workers are routinely exposed to potentially infectious materials during routine care of patients. They must understand the mode of transmission of a variety of infectious diseases and what type of precautions to take to reduce their exposure to and risk for these.

3. Objectives • At the end of this lesson, the student will: • Analyze principles of infection control • Identify the Chain of Infection and its role in preventing the spread of microorganisms • Demonstrate proper use of Standard Precautions

4. Microorganisms • A microorganism (microbe) is a small living plant or animal that can only be seen with a microscope. • Microbes are everywhere. • There are two classification • Non-pathogens – do not usually cause infections and help to maintain body processes • Pathogens – cause infection and disease

5. Classes of Microorganisms • Bacteria • one celled microorganisms that are classified by shape • Multiply rapidly and can cause disease in any body system • Diseases: staph infections, strep throat, food poisoning, syphilis • Protozoa • One-celled animals that can infect the brain, blood, intestines • Diseases: malaria, dysentery

6. Classes of Microorganisms • Fungi • Plants that live on other plants or animals • Include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms • Diseases: Vaginal yeast infections, thrush, athlete’s foot, ringworm • Rickettsiae • Found in fleas, ticks, lice, and other insects • Spread by bites of the insect • Diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

7. Classes of Microorganisms • 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: colds, herpes, chicken pox, measles, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, and Aids

8. Requirements of Micro-organisms • Microbes need a reservoir (host) to live and grow. • Water and nourishment. • Most need oxygen to live. • A warm and dark environment is needed. • Most grow best at body temperature. • Microbes are destroyed by heat and light.

9. Classification of Infections and Diseases • Endogenous – begins inside the body • Exogenous – caused by something outside the body • Nosocomial or Hospital Acquired Infection – (HAI) acquired by an individual within a health care facility • Opportunistic – occur when the body’s defenses are weak

10. Classification of Infections and Diseases • Local infection - is in a body part. • Systemic infection - involves the whole body • Communicable - can be transmitted from one person to another person. • Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) • Organisms that can resist the effects of antibiotics • MRSA –Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus • VRE – Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus

11. Chain of Infection If any part of the chain is broken, the spread of the disease or infection will stop.

12. Mode of Transmission • Microbes may be transmitted by: • Airborne Transmission • Bloodborne Transmission • Vectorborne Transmission • Sexual Transmission • Foodborne Transmission • Casual Contact

13. Medical Asepsis • Asepsis is being free of disease-producing microbes. • Measures are needed to achieve asepsis. • Medical asepsis (clean technique) • Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) • Sterilization is the process of destroying all microbes. • Contamination is the process of becoming unclean.

14. Rules of Hand Hygiene • Wash your hands with soap & waterwhen they are visibly dirty or soiled • After using the restroom • After contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions • After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose • Before and after handling, preparing, or eating food

15. Rules of Hand Hygiene • Use an alcohol-based hand rub to decontaminate your hands if they are not visibly soiled • Before direct contact with a person • After contact with a person’s intact skin • After removing gloves

16. Supplies and Equipment Most equipment is disposable, however, non disposable items must be cleaned and then disinfected. • Disinfection - process of destroying pathogens. • Germicides - disinfectants applied to skin, tissues, and non-living objects. • Chemical disinfectants - used to clean surfaces and reusable items. • Sterilization destroys all non-pathogens and pathogens, including spores.

17. Standard Precautions • Are part of the CDC’s Isolation Precautions • Reduce the risk of spreading pathogens • Are used when giving care for all residents • Prevent the spread for infection from: • Blood • All body fluids, secretions, and excretions even if no blood is visible • Skin with open breaks or wounds • Mucous membranes

18. Isolation Precautions • Blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions can transmit pathogens so barriers are created to prevent the spread of communicable or contagious diseases. • Usually the person’s room is used. • Are based on clean and dirty.

19. Isolation Precautions • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Gowns • Masks • Eyewear • Special measures are used for • removing linens, trash, and equipment from the room • collecting and transporting specimens • transporting persons

20. Gloves and Gowns • Wear gloves whenever contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin is likely. • Gowns protect your clothes and body from contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions. • Gowns must completely cover you from your neck to your knees. • A wet gown is contaminated. • Disposable gowns are discarded after use.

21. Masks, Goggles, Eyewear • Masks and respirators prevent the spread of microbes from the respiratory tract. • Masks are disposable & is contaminated if wet or moist • Goggles and face shields protect your face from splashing or spraying of blood and body fluids. • The outside of masks, goggles or a face shield is contaminated. • Disposable eyewear is discarded after use. • Reusable eyewear is cleaned and disinfected before reuse

22. Isolation Precautions • Contaminated items are bagged to remove them from the person’s room. • Leak-proof plastic bags are used. • Bag and transport linens, trash, equipment, and supplies following center policy. • Double bagging is not needed unless the outside of the bag is soiled. • Use biohazard specimen bags to transport specimens to the laboratory. • Procedures for transporting persons vary among centers

23. Bloodborne Pathogen Standard • A regulation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect the health team from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) • HIV and HBV are bloodborne pathogens. • The center must have an exposure control plan. • It identifies staff at risk • Includes actions to take for an exposure incident. • Staff at risk receive free training.

24. Preventive Measures • Measures used to reduce the risk of exposure include: • Hepatitis B vaccinations • Engineering and work practice controls • Personal protective equipment (PPE) • Proper cleaning and decontamination of contaminated equipment • Decontaminate work surfaces with a proper disinfectant. • Use a brush and dustpan or tongs to clean up broken glass

25. Regulated Waste • Any soiled with liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infection material, including sharps, must be discarded using special measures • Containers used for discarding regulated waste are closable, puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and color-coded in red and have the BIOHAZARD symbol. • The center must be kept clean and sanitary. • Special measures must be used with contaminated laundry

26. Exposure Incidents • Any contact of the eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin with blood or OPIM, including parental contact (needles) • Incidents must be reported at once. • Confidentiality is important.