1. Safety and Asepsis Flashcards
An object that is not living, such as metal or stone
inanimate
A living body, such as a virus, which is too small to be seen by the naked eye
microorganism
A microorganism that causes disease
pathogen
The steps in the process of disease transmission
chain of infection
AKA infection cycle
Name the steps in the chain of infection
- Infectious agent (causative organism)
- Reservoir (where organism grows and multiplies)
- Exit route (how it leaves the reservoir)
- Method of transmission (means of transfer to potential victim—direct/indirect contact, air/droplets, vectors)
- Entrance (route into the body)
- Host
A tough outer coating formed by some bacteria as a defense
spore
Difficult to destroy because they are resistant to heat and most chemical disinfectants.
Destroying ALL microorganisms, including spore-bearing ones
sterilization
Only inanimate surfaces can be made sterile (not skin).
Destroying all microorganisms EXCEPT spore-bearing ones
disinfection
Disinfectants are too strong to use on living tissue; only inanimate surfaces can be disinfected. Some products can be used as either a disinfectant or sterilants, with a longer contact time required for sterilization.
Inhibiting the growth of microorganisms
antisepsis
Living surfaces such as skin cannot be safely disinfected or sterilized. Antiseptics are used on living tissue to achieve antisepsis.
Achieved by breaking one or more links in the chain of infection
infection control
The start of infection control
personal hygiene
hand washing, clean uniforms, clean/pulled back hair, frequent bathing, short/clean fingernails, no jewelry
The single most important step in maintaining asepsis
hand washing
You should wash your hands:
- Before/after every procedure
- Before/after eating
- After using the restroom
- After removing gloves
- After wiping/blowing nose
- At the beginning and end of each workday
- After using items handled by a client
- After handling contaminated equipment or supplies
- Any time you doubt the cleanliness of your hands
Equipment that will be sterilized must be _______ first.
cleaned
Anything contaminated with blood or body fluids should be thoroughly ___________ with ____________ before being washed.
rinsed; cold water
Antiseptics are used on _____, but should not be used on _______.
skin; equipment
Equipment should be cleaned with a __________ or __________ as appropriate.
hospital grade disinfectant; sterilized
Use a 1:10 solution of __________ to clean blood or body fluids.
bleach to water
Use a puncture-resistant ________ for discarded needles.
sharps container
Use double plastic trash bags for anything contaminated with ________.
blood or body fluids
Use ______ equipment whenever possible.
disposable
Never _______ disposable equipment.
reuse
Store clean equipment in a ______, ______ area where it will not become contaminated.
clean, dry
__________ should be used to cover equipment and objects that cannot be discarded or easily sterilized.
barrier film
Touching and kissing are forms of _______.
direct contact
Touching used tissues, needles, or contaminated surfaces are methods of ______.
indirect contact
A reservoir or source must satisfy the microorganism’s _____ needs.
growth
Live creatures, such as flies and mosquitos, that transfer pathogens are known as _______.
vectors
The _____ is the route the pathogen takes into the body.
entrance
Any opening which can serve as a portal of exit can also serve as a portal of entry.
Carried in the blood
bloodborne
HBV
hepatitis B virus
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
_____ sets the standards for employees who are exposed to blood and body fluids.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
OSHA standards cover work practices and control methods that must be used by any employer with a least _______.
one employee
A written OSHA exposure control plan must:
- Identify job classifications where there is exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials
- Explain protective measures in affect (ex: immunizations, PPE, and housekeeping practices)
- Establish a process for evaluating an exposure incident
To communicate hazards, OSHA training must be available to all employees and must include:
- OSHA regulations
- Epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases
- Modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens
- Exposure control plan
- Methods to control transmission of HBV and HIV
- How to recognize occupational exposure
- HBV vaccines
- Emergency procedures and exposure reporting procedures
- Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
- Selecting and using PPE
- Uses/limitations of safe work practices, engineering controls, and PPE
- Labels, signs, and color-coding
According to OSHA standards, the ______ vaccine must be made available to all affected employees.
HBV — hepatitis B virus
OSHA record keeping includes:
- Confidential medical record (HBV vaccine status, exposure history, and post-exposure test results)
- Training records
- Sterilization and spore test results
PPE
personal protective equipment
Serves as a barrier against contamination of your body/clothing by blood/body fluids. Also protects client against pathogens that could be carried on your hands or clothing.
Clean (not sterile), powder-free ______ must be worn during every procedure.
gloves
Any break in your skin provides access for pathogens. Use a new pair for each client and change your gloves if they become damaged or otherwise contaminated in any way.
Covers your nose and mouth to protect you from exposure and your client from droplets that might be spread by coughing or sneezing.
mask
Keeps splashes or spatters of body fluids or pigment out of your eyes.
protective eyewear
Personal eyeglasses are not considered protective eyewear, as they do not provide ______ or meet the same standards for ______.
side shields; impact resistance
Comfortable shoes that ____ and ____ the feet must always be worn.
cover; protect
An organization that administers and coordinates the US voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.
ANSI—American National Standard Institute
A substance known to cause cancer.
carcinogen
Destructive to tissue
corrosive
A substance known to cause genetic mutation
mutagen
A substance that will cause an exposed person to develop a reaction when exposed to the same substance or other substances
sensitizer
A substance known to affect normal development of a fetus when a pregnant woman is exposed
teratogen
A poison
toxin
The ____ is a form that provides the information you need to work with a specific product or substance safely.
MSDS—Material Safety Data Sheet
Two formats include OSHA and ANSI, which is more comprehensive.
Sections of an OSHA MSDS
Heading
Section I: Manufacturer’s Data
Section II: Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information
Section III: Physical and Chemical Characteristics
Section IV: Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
Section V: Reactivity Data
Section VI: Health Hazard Data
Section VII: Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
Section VIII: Control Measures
Sections of an ANSI MSDS
- Substance identity and company contact info
- Chemical composition and data on components
- Hazards identification
- First aid measures
- Fire-fighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and storage
- Exposure controls and personal protection
- Physical and chemical properties
- Stability and reactivity
- Toxicological information
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- Transport information
- Regulations
- Other information
The concentrate of a chemical to which an employee may be exposed, over a lifetime, without suffering any ill effects
threshold limit value (TLV)
The maximum amount or concentration of a chemical that a worker may be exposed to
permissible exposure limit (PEL)
A vapor at the temperature of the boiling point corresponding to its pressure
saturated vapor
The pressure exerted by a saturated vapor above its own liquid
vapor pressure
The ratio of the density of a vapor compared to the density of air
vapor density
Vapors with a density of <1 will rise in the air, those with a density of >1 will sink.
Introduced universal precautions (standard precautions) to help prevent the spread of AIDS
CDC—Centers for Disease Control
What year were standard precautions introduced?
1987
Besides blood, these body fluids are included in the standard precautions guidelines (there are 12):
Saliva, tears, urine, semen, breast milk, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid
The body fluids a micropigmentation technician is most likely to come into contact with while working
blood, tears, and saliva
The risk of infection is greatest when exposure occurs ________.
beneath the skin or to a mucus membrane
Ex: being stuck with a used needle or fluids splashing into a cut, eye, mouth, or nose.
Items used to prevent exposure of skin and mucous membranes to blood and body fluids
barrier precautions
Include gloves, gowns, masks, proper footwear, and protective eyewear.
Dirty linens and clothing should be washed at a temperature of _____ for _____ minutes.
160; 25
Do not store or launder these items with other clothing or linens.
Objects are immersed in a liquid that kills microorganisms
wet sterilization
Wet sterilization is seldom used for micropigmentation equipment.
Equipment sterilized by dry heat is heated to _____.
340F
A type of sterilization that is too hot for many plastics
dry sterilization
Dry sterilization sometimes used for coil machines to ______.
reduce the risk of rust
Wet sterilization is also known as _____ or _____.
cold or chemical sterilization
Sterilization method that takes 10-12 hours
wet sterilization
After wet sterilization, objects must be ______.
rinsed with sterile water and stored in a sterile container
Type of sterilization used for items that cannot withstand high heat
wet sterilization
A steam sterilizer is also known as an ______.
autoclave
Items may be packaged before sterilization or after. After sterilization, items are allowed to air dry. Spore testing must be done regularly to ensure the autoclave is working properly.
An autoclave uses a combination of _____ and _____ to destroy microorganisms.
pressure (15-27 psi) and steam (250-270F)
The most commonly used method of sterilization
autoclaving
Gas sterilization uses ______ gas to sterilize delicate equipment that could be damaged by the heat and pressure of steam sterilization.
ethylene oxide
Requires temperatures of 70-140F and can take up to 12 hours. The gas is extremely toxic and a carcinogen, so items must be allowed to air dry afterward for several hours in a mechanical aerator or up to 7 days without an aerator. The gas is also flammable and explosive, so it’s very dangerous.
