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. Method of Transmission
Chain of Infection
Source
Reservoir
Portal of Exit
Method of Transmission
Portal of Entry
Susceptible
Host
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 & water when 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.