Protecting from Infections

NHS procedures are guidelines for correct and complete hand-washing

Latex gloves, disposable apron and alcohol hand sanitizer usage between service users or patients is normal day to day practice, which is written down on a policy and everyone is trained accordingly…

Blood borne viruses The main blood borne viruses are:- HIV Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis B virus

Vomit, urine and blood Biological hazards can be bodily fluids and need a particular procedure to ensure they are cleared away safely….

Absorbing material is sprinkled over spilt blood, vomit or urine to turn the fluid solid so it can be swept up…. Disposal of the solid residue needs to be careful and then mopping the area thoroughly so there is no trace of the fluid left…. Then, report the incident!

Disposable protective clothing PPE – Personal Protective Equipment are disposable gloves, aprons and face mask. All incidents of chemical cleaning spillages need reporting to a supervisor and perhaps an analysis of what happen that lead to a spillage

Clinical Waste Waste contaminated by blood, urine, saliva or other bodily fluids, which could be infectious. Clinical waste advertisement; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_fmJBd7U3Y

Viruses passed through saliva http://www. dailymail. co The main viruses caused by coughing, sneezing and touching where traces of saliva have been, even in the smallest of droplets:- Colds Flu or influenza Measles Chicken pox Mumps Rubella Meningitis

Bacteria passed through sexual contact Bacteria passed through skin contact and sometimes passed onto food ingested Salmonella MRSA Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff Impetigo Chlamydia Syphilis Gonorrhoea Bacteria passed through sexual contact

Exposure to infections Our own immune systems are fighting off invasions of bacteria, viruses and fungi, however, service users who are young, old, ill or stressed maybe more susceptible to them, as their immune systems is weaker Health, Social and Child care environments has lots of people together, in one place, increasing the chances of a spread between people. Poor care environments with poor ventilation, warmth and lack of running water allows pathogens that cause infections, to thrive

Disposal of sharps Similar to other hospital or doctors waste, there is a policy and procedures for the safe disposal of needles or medicine vials (which are glass) Staff are trained and must strictly adhere to standards to avoid needle-stick injuries, which spread infection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT0H1IKKelo

Cleaning equipment Cleaning equipment such as clothes, mops, as well as disposable aprons and gloves are often colour coded so there’s no accidental contamination from one area cleaned to another

Designated laundry room Laundry is bagged according to type, so for example MRSA infected bedding is bagged in a red bag. Designated laundry areas where staff where gloves and aprons are necessary to ensure infected staff clothing or service user gowns and bedding is correctly laundered http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-viruses/laundry-treatments.htm

Equipment and surfaces Procedures and guidelines for cleaning equipment and surfaces are clear and care workers are trained about these. They are then protected themselves as well as protecting individual service users from cross-contamination from one patient to another, especially when they may already be vulnerable to becoming ill due to poor immune systems.