Infection Control

• Define Infection Control• Understand the Chain of Infection• Identify Infection Control Practices • Become familiar with different types of PPE• Define Universal Precaution

Learning Objectives

What is Infection Control?

Infection Control is the prevention of the spread of clinically significant micro organisms that cause

infection; or the prevention of the spread of pathogenic micro organisms that have the

potential to cause disease.

Chain of Infection

• An infectious agent- Virus, Bacteria, Parasite, Fungus• Reservoir Host- Infected Individual or animal• Portal of exit- contact with body fluid and secretions, as well as broken

skin• Mode of Transmission- Skin to Skin contact, Droplets, Airborne/aerosol• Portal of entry- Mucus membranes of the eye, nose and mouth, broken

skin, respiratory tract and reproductive organs• Susceptible host- Immune-deficient patient, Pregnant woman, children

the elderly and wounded

Infection Control In Our Daily LivesWashing Hands Before and after :• Eating• Changing a diaper• Using the restroom• Preparing food in the

kitchen

Knowing when to:

• Disinfect a wound• Cover your mouth when

you sneeze• Never shear personal

grooming tools ( combs, tooth brushes, makeup)

Infection Control in our Daily Lives

Being healthcare professionals allow us an opportunity to also educate and empower the people you come into contact with on a daily basis. We can encourage our friends and families to practice infection control. Small exercises like these can help to re-enforce your own knowledge, so that it becomes second nature to practice infection control on the job.

Infection Control Practices

Standards have been developed by the (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help healthcare facilities educate their employees on how to prevent healthcare associated infections (Nosocomial Infections)

Infection Control Practices Cont’d• Universal Precaution- Consider all patients, patient

samples and any object that has come into contact with the patient infected.

• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – Safety Goggles, Face Shield, Gloves, Lab Coat, and Rubber Shoes

• Hand Hygiene- Cleansing hands with an alcohol based foam, gel or wipe that is approved by your healthcare facility before and after direct contact with a patient, patient sample or any object that has come into contact with the patient is a MUST DO!

Infection Control Practices Cont’d

•Wash hands for 15-30 seconds under warm flowing water if they are visibly contaminated with blood or any type of body fluid•Change gloves between patients and also when the glove has been compromised•Clean phones, keyboards and any surface that may have come into contact with biohazard material

Hospital Acquired Infections

•MRSA ( Methacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)•VRE (Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus)•C.Diff (Clostridium Difficile)•Hepatitis- (A, B & C)•HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus)•Influenza ( A, B & H1N1)

Assignment Research each organism and explain the mode of transmission, which system/s of the body they affect and the type of PPE you would use to prevent contracting and spreading that particular type of infection. •MRSA, VRE, C.Diff, Hepatitis (A, B & C), HIV, Influenza ( A, B & H1N1)

***Be thorough and Specific***

Pop Quiz

1. How long should you wash you hands with soap and

water?

2. List two types of infectious organisms.

3. When moving from patient to patient when should

you change you gloves?

4. Define infection control.

5. Define Universal Precaution.