Infection Control

Question 1

Why learn about infection control?

Answer 1

300,000 healthcare infections a year
Cost the NHS 1 Bn/ year
64 % of blood stream infections are due to intravenous devices.

Question 2

What is the chain of infection what is required?

Answer 2

1. Reservoir = where potential spread originates - patients, staff, formites
2. Host - low immunity, elderly or young, IV lines etc
3. Portal of entry - respiratory tract, gastrointestinal intestinal tract, broken skin, urinary tract
4. Portal of exit same as portals of entry
5. Mode of transmission - direct contact, indirect contact (formite), airborne, self spread

Also need a microorganism e.g. MRSA, HIV, TB, VRE etc

Important to recognise, break chain then infection stopped.

Question 3

What s the most effective way to stop cross infection?

Answer 3

WASH YOUR HANDS!

Question 4

Types of hand washing levels?

Answer 4

1 = social washing = soap and water for 20 seconds

2 = Hygienic hand antisepsis = antibacterial soap or detergent or alcohol rub for 20 seconds

3= surgical scrub - above with scrub for 120 seconds

Question 5

Purpose of hand washing?

Answer 5

To remove transient hand flora and also resident flora which can also cause infections

Question 6

When should you wash your hands?

X5

Answer 6

Enter and leaving a clinical area 
Before and after contact with very patient 
Before and after gloves 
After toilet 
Before eating

Question 7

Note alcohol rub will kill all contaminants e.g Norovirus

Answer 7

…

Question 8

What types of clinical waste are there and how should you dispose it?

Answer 8

Household - paper and plastic etc

Clinical - soiled dressing, anything contaminated with body fluids

Medicinal contaminated bags may also be available.

Ask where you are as bags may vary.

Question 9

What is a sharp and how do you dispose of it?

Answer 9

A sharp is any item that may potentially cut or penetrate the skin.

The sharp should be disposed off at its location - bring the sharp bin to it.
Carry these bins by their handles
Do not overfill - take to drop off point when full.
Needle and syringe should be disposed off together in the sharp bin.

Question 10

When should gloves, masks and aprons be warn?

Answer 10

When there is a risk of bodily fluids.

Any broken skin should be covered with a waterproof dressing

Any spills cleaned with 1% hypochlorine solution

Question 11

What are the two types of isolation precaution?

Answer 11

Source - confine patient to stop them spreading infectious disease. Shedding MRSA, diarrhoea.

Protective - patients who are particularly susceptible to infection (compromised immune system)

Doors closed, ventricles and have an en-suite.