Handwashing and Infection Control

Question 1

What is infection control?

Answer 1

protocols and processes carried out within the veterinary practice that aim to minimise the risk of spreading disease

Question 2

What document are infection control measures usually explained in?

Answer 2

practice standard operating procedures

Question 3

Why are infection control measures necessary?

Answer 3

reducing hospital acquired infections (HAI’s)
patient morbidity and mortality
staff safety
public health

Question 4

What is a hospital acquired infection?

Answer 4

infection gained while in hospital or up to 30 days after discharge

Question 5

What are zoonoses?

Answer 5

diseases that can be passed from animals to humans

Question 6

What 3 ways can infection be transfurred?

Answer 6

direct contact
indirect contact (handling of begging/bowls)
aerosol

Question 7

What can be done to reduce the spread of infection?

Answer 7

hand hygiene
environment cleaning and disinfecting protocols (SOP’s)
antimicrobial stewardship
isolation and barrier nursing

Question 8

What are the 2 methods of killing/removing microorganisms from hands?

Answer 8

washing with running water and antimicrobial soap

alcohol based hand sanitiser

Question 9

When would gloves be used?

Answer 9

during aseptic procedures and for high infection risk patients

Question 10

If wearing gloves when must hand washing be carried out?

Answer 10

as soon as gloves are removed

Question 11

When must gloves be changed?

Answer 11

whenever hand hygiene should be performed

Question 12

Describe the WHO hand washing process

Answer 12

1. wet hands with water
2. apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces
3. rub hands palm to palm
4. right palm over left dorsum and vice versa
5. palm to palm with fingers interlaced
6. backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlaced
7. rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa
8. rotational backwards and forwards rubbing of clasped fingers of right hand into left palm and vice versa
9. rinse hands with water
10. dry hands thoroughly with single use towel
11. use towel to turn off tap
12. your hands are now safe

Question 13

What are the 5 moments for hand hygiene?

Answer 13

before and after touching a patient
before and after a clean/aseptic procedure
after touching a patients surroundings
after potential contact with body fluids

Question 14

Describe the basic process of kennel cleaning

Answer 14

1. remove bedding and wash
2. remove any organic material
3. select detergent to complete first clean
4. apply correctly diluted disinfectant and leave on for contact time
5. wipe down kennel working from top to bottom, not forgetting doors
6. leave to dry and ensure practice SOP’s are followed to show kennel is clean (e.g. clean label on outside)

Question 15

At what temperature will most bedding be washed?

Answer 15

60 degrees plus

Question 16

What may need to happen to heavily soiled bedding before it is washed?

Answer 16

soaked in disinfectant

Question 17

Why must organic material be removed before the kennel is cleaned with disinfectant?

Answer 17

organic material can interfere with the action of disinfectant and deactivate it

Question 18

Why should a first clean with detergent be completed?

Answer 18

ensures disinfectant is able to work as there is nothing present to deactivate it

Question 19

Why may the dilution and contact time of a disinfectant vary?

Answer 19

each company has their own and may also vary depending on level of soiling and infection risk

Question 20

Why must the kennel be wiped from top to bottom?

Answer 20

top is usually the cleanest and therefore we do not want to introduce anything from the floor (dirtiest area)