Standard Precautions + Infection Control

Standard Precautions + Infection Control

1. Chain of infection

   • Infectious agent - an organism that can cause disease
     • Reservoir - a place where the organism can thrive, e.g. inside a human
       • Port of exit - a way for the organism to leave the reservoir, e.g. a cough from infected lungs
         • Mode of transmission - the way the organism is spread, e.g. touching doorknobs
           • Mode of entry - a way for the organism to get into a host, e.g. orifices
             • Susceptible host - someone who is susceptible of infection from the organism

2. Hand Hygiene - most effective form of infection control

   • Two types of microorganisms found on the hands
     • Resident flora -
       • Normal organisms, part of the body's natural defense system
       • Don't normally cause disease, but may be a problem during surgery if they penetrate deep tissue
     • Transient flora
       • Acquired from contact with the envirnoment
       • Located on the skin, readily transmittable to anything touched - removed by washing hands
   • Five times during patient care when hand washing is mandatory
     • Before touching a petient
     • Before aseptic procedure
     • After body fluid exposure
     • After touching a patient's surroundings
     • After touching a patient

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

   • Purpose - to protect the wearer from blood and body fluids, and to protect the patient from infection
   • Plastic aprons
   • Sterile and non-sterile gloves
   • Eye protection
   • Face protection
   • Water impervious gowns

4. Other Standard Precautions

   • Sharps saftey
   • Safe handling of blood and fluid spillages
   • Cleaning and contamination of equipment
   • Care of linen
   • Disposal of waste and excreta