Health Skills I

1. HealthSkillsI Unit 101.2 Aseptic Techniques

2. Objectives • Identify the practices of aseptic technique and related terminology.

3. Terms • Contaminated • living organism(s) present on an animate or inanimate surface • floors are always considered contaminated • Septic is another term for contaminated NOT

4. Terms • Clean • removal of foreign matter such as organic material • example • fecal matter, blood, body fluids • Sterile • free of all living microorganisms

5. Terms • Autoclave • process of sterilization that uses heat and steam under pressure to destroy all pathogens including spores and viruses • Disinfect • removal of most pathogens through cleansing solutions

6. Autoclaves • Types of processes used: • Ethylene Oxide • Chemical Vapor • Steam

7. Medical Asepsis(Clean Technique) • refers to practices or procedures used to ensure a cleanenvironment by removing or destroying diseases causing microorganisms after each patient procedure • Importance • healthcare worker has DUTY AND OBLIGATION to patient to do this • must be ongoing battle

8. Surgical Asepsis(Sterile Technique) • refers to all practices and precautions that ensure the environment is free of all microorganisms • aimed at destroying or stopping transmission of ALL microorganisms • special techniques for opening sterile packages, and working from a sterile field must be learned and practiced with precision

9. Principles of Aseptic Technique • Keep sterile field within view • Hold sterile objects above the waist • Avoid spilling solutions on any cloth or disposable sterile drapes. • Keep hands below shoulder level.

10. Use Sterile Technique • whenever entering area of body that is not a natural route of entry • when caring for wounds or burns, performing catheterizations, suctioning, tooth extractions, surgery, etc. • failure to follow these guidelines could cause illness or death to patient

11. Patient Care Guidelines • wash hands before and after patient care, and handling supplies • handle dressing, bandages and tissues according to policy • wrap damp or wet items in waterproof bags • discard disposable items • use equipment and supplies for one patient only • cover breaks in skin with a sterile dressing • prevent cross contamination

12. Patient Care Guidelines • keep food and beverages clean • floors are contaminated • avoid raising dust • airborne • do not shake linens • clean from least soiled to most soiled • discard liquids directly into drain or toilet • avoid spilling and splashing • keep rooms bright, clean, dry, and airy • if in question, ITS CONTAMINATED

13. Open Skin Lesions • healthcare workers with draining lesions or weeping dermatitis, should refrain from direct patient care or food handling • report condition to supervisor for direction as this may vary per facility or department

14. Healthcare Workers Should Be: • *clean and neat • *wash uniform daily • *shower daily, including hair • *have short hair or secure it back • *brush teeth regularly • *proper nail care (follow policy of facility) fake nails may grow fungus under nail deadly to patients • *wear no jewelry

15. Handle Equipment Properly • failure to follow the guidelines for correct technique in handling of equipment could result in serious infections to patient or healthcare worker

16. Proper CleaningSolutions: • bacteriostatic • slows down or stops growth of bacteria • bacteriocidal • kills bacteria • household bleach solution • 1:10 ratio • kills all pathogens on objects and surfaces cleansed with solution • must be made fresh daily • iodine and alcohol • frequently used on skin for disinfecting

17. Handwashing • *prevents spreading infection • *wash before gloving and after removal of gloves • *wash before & after every patient contact & after exposure to blood or body fluids • *single most important procedure to prevent the spread of disease!

18. Handwashing • *use 3 - 5 ml. of soap • *vigorous friction rubbing not to exceed 15 seconds • *rinse with fingers pointed down • *dry fingertips to wrist • *shut off faucet with clean towel

19. Sanitation ofEquipment • clean contaminated, reusable equipment by cleansing with soap/water & brush. Rinse & dry thoroughly before packaging & sterilizing • sterilize reusable equipment that will invade the body or mucous membrane • disinfect reusable equipment used for non-invasive procedures

20. Knowledge Assessment • Compare and contrast the terms contaminated, clean, and sterile. • List the types of autoclaved processes used. • List the principles of aseptic technique. • Understand the principles of patient care guidelines involving asepsis. • Contrast the different cleaning solutions. • Identify key components in hand washing considerations and technique.