Post on 17-Aug-2015
Infection Transmission commonly ocurs in 5 ways:
1. Contact – Direct or indirect
2. Droplet – Large drops into the nose or mouth
3. Vehicle – Food, water, medications ingested
4. Airborne - small particles of droplets or dust
5. Vectorborne – Insects or organisms
Infection and Transmission: A Review
Microorganisms (Microbes) are tiny animals and plants found everywhere
Infection occurs when pathogens colonize and alter the normal function of an organism
Infection Control & Prevention
There are 4 major practices for infection control and Prevention:
1. Hand Washing – Hand washing is the greatest and most important practice for infection control and prevention!
2. Protective Barriers
3. Care of Equipment in a Medical Setting
4. Health Care Worker Practices.
Hand Washing
Infection Control & Prevention
Hand washing is the greatest and most important practice for infection control and prevention!
It is critical to follow hand washing procedures and
protocol
Infection Control & Prevention
Hand Washing
Hand Washing Steps:
1. Thoroughly wet the hands
2. Add soap – if using a bar of soap, rub for 20 seconds
3. Scrub hands, including backs, wrists, between fingers and under the nails.
4. Rinse soap off.
5. Dry hands thoroughly with a paper towel (avoid hand dryers where possible).
6. Turn off the water / tap using the paper towel.
Infection Control & Prevention
Protective Barriers
Personal Protective Equipment is specialized clothing and equipment worn by health care workers for their safety.
This equipment is especially important to workers who may come in contact with blood and bodily fluids of a patient
Protective Barriers
Infection Control & Prevention
Protective Barriers include:
Safety Glasses
Hair Nets
Masks
Coats and Gowns
Plastic Aprons
Care of Equipment
Infection Control & Prevention
Medical Equipment and Facilities use 2 common methods for infection control and prevention:
1. Sterilization: A process that kills microbes at the highest level on medical equipment using heat, steam, a chemical process or a combination of these methods.
2. Disinfection: A process in which all liquid chemicals are used on all surfaces at room temperatures to kill microbes in medical facilities.
Health Care Practices
Infection Control & Prevention
Asepsis: The term referring to practices used to keep an area free of disease-causing microbes.
Medical Asepsis: Practices include hand washing, and personal protective barriers
Surgical Asepsis: Includes sterilization techniques for equipment
5 Moments for Hand Hygiene for Health Care workers
1. Before touching a patient
2. Before performing a clean (aseptic) procedure
3. After blood or body fluid exposure
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching a patient’s surroundings
Infection Control & Prevention
Health Care Practices
Infection Control & Prevention
Important Terms in Infection Control and Prevention
Antiseptic: A substance that kills microbes on living tissue
Germicide: A product or chemical that destroys pathogens on living tissue or facility surfaces
Alcohol Hand Cleaner: A waterless antiseptic used as a substitute to hand washing, with approximately a 70% alcohol content
Nosocomial Infections: Infections acquired in a health care setting