1. Medical Asepsis and OSHA Standards
Why are germs important?
What is a germ?
How are germs spread?
Should we all be doing the same thing, in terms of cleaning?

2. Medical Asepsis Asepsis = free of microorganisms Microorganisms
Tiny organisms….microscopic
Animals or plants
Types of microorganisms
Bacteria – single cell organisms
Virus – not living, smallest of organisms
Fungi – parasitic plants
Parasites – live off of a host
Amoebas and paramecium. – multi-celled organisms
Pathogens – disease causing microbes

3. Growth requirement for microorganisms.
Nutrition – food and chemicals
Oxygen – some need it some don’t
Aerobes live in oxygen
Anaerobes live without oxygen
Temperature – optimum growth
Light or darkness
Moisture
pH – acidity or alkaline (basic)

4. How microorganisms are spread
Need a germ (what’s another word)
Need a host
carrier
Need a way to get that germ from one person to another.
Examples?
Need someone to give it to and a way into that person.

5. Infection cycle

6. Protective mechanisms of the body
The skin – barrier protection.
Mucous membranes – skin on parts of the body that “turn in”
Mucus and cilia – mucus traps and cilia brushes it out of the body
Mechanical – cough, sneeze and tears.
pH – sweat, urine, stomach and secretions

7. Medical asepsis Hand hygiene Hand washing Hand washing
Routine Hand washing
Antiseptic or surgical hand washing
Alcohol based
“Quick wash”
Not soiled
Gloves – not a substitute for hand washing!
Flora – microorganisms
Resident – normal
Transient–not normally there
Hand washing
Most important!
Warm to hot water
Soap/detergent
Friction
Time (how long?)
When to wash your hands?
Start and end of day
Before & after each pt.
Before & after eating.
See pg 54 in text. Wash, gloves.

8. Questions about microorganisms and medical asepsis?
What is the best way to prevent the spread of disease?
What things do you need to spread disease?

9. OSHA Standards Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Establish rules for a safe working environment
All health care workers must follow these rules.
Bloodborne pathogens
Viruses
Hepatitis B
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
AIDS – Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome

10. Means of transmission by contact
Direct contact
Involves directly touching a susceptible host
Examples
Taking vital signs
Handshake
Sexual contact
etc
Indirect contact
Does NOT involve direct contact
Examples
Airborne particles
Droplets
Residual pathogens

11. Stages of infection Incubation period Prodromal period
From initial infection until signs of first symptoms.
Prodromal period
Vague, early symptoms
Period of illness
disease is at it’s peak
Declined period
decline of symptoms
Period of convalescence
body returns to pre-disease state

12. Stages of infection

13. How to prevent exposure
Control in the workplace
All body fluids are contaminated
Observe warning labels
Bandage cuts before work
Wash your hands!
If mucous contact, rinse the area
Needle safety. Sharps container. Never re-cap!
No eating, drinking, etc. Hand to mouth gestures.
3 refrigerators
Make sure equipment is working properly before use
If and accident happens, get help immediately!
Personal protective equipment
Types of equimpent
Gloves, gown, faceshield
Blocks bloodborne pathogens
Provided by employer
Alternatives to those who are allergic to certain things
Wear gloves properly
Eye, face protection.
If blood or body fluid penetrates fabric, it must be removed immediately

14. Universal Precautions
All body fluids are considered to be contaminated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV
ETC

15. Hepatitis B Virus A bloodborne virus that causes liver disease
-it is mean inflammation
Can be transmitted from patient to health care worker
Very strong virus outside of the body.
How do we protect ourselves?

16. Hepatitis B Vaccination
Must be offered by your employer within 10 working days of start of employment.
Hepatitis B vaccination
3 shot series
1st, then 2nd 1month later, final one 6 months later.
Reasons why someone would not get a Hep B shot
Previously immunized
Antibody testing (titers)
Contraindications

17. Hep B Vaccine Refusal Refusal of the Hepatitis B Vaccine
I, _________________________________, understand that due to my clinical exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material I may be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. I have been notified of the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine and realize that it is a requirement of the Athletic Training Education Program to receive this vaccine. However, I decline the hepatitis Bvaccination at this time. I understand that by declining this vaccine, I continue to be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B, a serious and potentially fatal disease. If in the future I want to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, I can choose to do so.
Employee Signature____________________________________________
Social Security Number __________________________ Date _________

18. Regulated Medical Waste
Where to dispose of medical waste and disposable medical equipment?
Regular trash container
Not saturated with body fluids. Band-aid
Biohazard Sharps container
Anything sharp. Used or not. “drug paraphernalia”
Biohazard “red bag” container
Saturated in blood
Sanitary sewer
Large volumes of biohazard liquids

19. Housekeeping Specific procedures must be followed
Clean and decontaminate equipment and surfaces after all procedures. Example in lab.
Detergent. What else can be used?
Do not pick up glass, even with gloves!
Handle all laundry as if it is soiled
Biohazard (sharps) containers
Dirty? Clean it. Full? Replace it.

20. Review What is OSHA? What are way disease can be spread?
What are the stages of infection?
What is Universal Precautions?
What is Hepatitis B?
How do we get rid of contaminated medical waste?