Infection Control Measures Flashcards
- Routine Hand Hygiene - Standard Precautions: use of personal protective equipment - Isolation Procedures - Aseptic Technique: key principles
What does the term asepsis mean?
The absence of potentially pathogenic organisms
What is aseptic technique?
A set of practices and procedures which ensures asepsis and for preventing the transfer of potentially pathogenic microorganisms to a susceptible site on the body or sterile equipment.
What technique is normally acceptable for cleansing surgical drain sites?
Aseptic technique
“When cleaning the wound, take a swab and clean both sides of the wound three times, using the same swab”. Is this statement true or false?
false
What kind of environment should you ideally dress a wound in?
A clean, dust-free environment
To open the sterile inner packet of a dressing pack, you should…
Unfold the sterile paper, holding the corners with your fingers
A clean rather than a sterile procedure may be sufficient for…
Dressing chronic wounds
What technique is recommended for removing the old dressing when using an aseptic technique for dressing a surgical wound?
Use the sterile waste bag from the dressing pack like a glove or use sterile forceps
When preparing to change a wound dressing, what is the first and foremost step?
First explain the procedure to the patient
When conducting a wound dressing, where should you place the disposal bag?
On the side of the trolley between you and the patient
You have just completed an aseptic procedure. In what order should you remove your personal protective equipment (PPE)?
First one glove, then the other glove, then the apron
A clean technique is a modified aseptic technique which aims to avoid introducing microorganisms to a susceptible site and also to prevent cross-infection to patients and staff”. Is this statement true or false?
True
While redressing a patient’s wound, you loosen the soiled dressing with non-sterile gloves. What should you do next?
Remove and dispose of your gloves, then decontaminate your hands
Which of the following factors support the use of an aseptic technique as opposed to a clean technique?
Patients who are immunosuppressed or diabetic, presence of an open orthopaedic wound
When arranging the items on the sterile field prior to using an aseptic technique, what is acceptable?
Using the waste bag included in the sterile pack by putting this over the hand like a glove
Through what means do our hands acquire a variety of microorganisms?[3]
- Contact with the environment
- objects in the environment
- other people
What are transient microorganisms?
Microorgnisms found on the skin
How does hand hygiene reduce the risk of HCAIs?
It breaks the chain of infection
What does HCAIs stand for?
Healthcare-associated infections.
According to NPSA failiure to carry put thorough hand hygiene may result in HCAIs in what way?
- Transfering the paties’s own microorganism from normal sit into sterile parts of patients body during care delivery or treatment
- transferring microorg. from patient to patient (cross-infection)
- transferring microorg. from environment/equipment to patient
True/False HCAIs can occur only in the hospital
False, HCAIs can occur in any setting where healthcare is delivered, even at homes.
List the 6 moments of hand washing
- Before direct patient contact
- Prior to clean/aseptic procedures.
- After direct patient contact
- After contact with bodily fluids
- When coming into contact with objects in patient environment
- After removal of gloves
What type of clothing should all healthcare professionals wear inclinical settings?
clothing which is bear below the elbows.
When is it appropriate to wear regular disposable gloves?
When there is a risk of exposure to bodily fluods, non-intact skin or mucous memebranes.
What does handwashing do that alcohol does not?
- Mechanical removal of transient microorganism
- Removes clostridium difficile and norovirus
When should you use hand washing over alcohol gel
- When hand s are visibly soiled
- Caring for patients with vomiting or diarrhoeal illness
- After using toilet
- Before Handling food.
Why should healthcare staff not use bars of soap for hand washing?
They can harbour and encourage growth of microorganisms.
Which is more effective hand washing or alcohol gel rub?
Alcohol gel rub
What Hand hygiene technique should be used on visibly soiled hands?
Hand washing, Alcohol gel rub is ineffective against organic soiling
What hand hygiene technique should be used on when dealing with patients who are vomiting or diarrhoea?
- Hand washing
- Alcohol rub is ineffective against Clostridium difficile, norovirus and other diarrhoeal infections
What is a commonly reported skin problem when using antiseptic agents (i.e. containing idine, chlorhexidine)?
Dermatitis
Why should you not use antiseptic agents (i.e. contaiining iodine) for routine use in had hygiene?
Increased risk of dermatitis and irritated skin
Are nailbrushes recommended for routine hand hygiene?
No, because they can act as a vector for transferrimg microorganisms from one person to another.
Single use nailbrushes are essential for surgical scrubbing.
Suggest ways in which you can limit the damaging effect of hand washing
- Wet hands before applying soap.
- Pat hands with paper towels rather than rub.
- Use hand emollients regularly
Which areas are most frequently missed when hand washing?
The back of the thumbs,
Between fingers
fingertips and nails
in the grooves of the hand
What is the purpose of “standard precations” with regards to using protective equipment?
To reduce the risk of ransmission of microorganism from one person to another.
True/ False practitioners should keep their gloves in their pockets?
False, as this increases risk of contamination.
Prior to any procedure, what should practitioners before carrying out hand hygiene and putting on gloves?
Ensure equipment is all ready thus gloved hands remain as clean as possible
When must sterile gloves be worn?
For any invasive procedure where an aseptic technique is required when the integrity of the skin is broken. Also for contact with sterile sites.
Give examples for when sterile gloves should be used
- Surgical procedures
- Suturing
- Cathterisation
- Vaginal Examination during labour, following rupture of membrane
- Bladder Irrigation
- Invasive investigations i.e. bone marrow biopsy, lumbar punctures.
When coming into contact with mucous membranes broken skin or any procedure which causes exposure body fluids, what type of gloves should be worn?
clean gloves.
What type of gloves should be used for more invasive procedure (i.e. biopsy’s)?
Sterile Gloves
What type of gloves should be used for catheterisation?
Sterile gloves.
What type of gloves should be worn for surgical procedures?
Sterile Gloves
What type of gloves should be worn for bladder irrigation?
sterile gloves
How many times can the same pair of gloves be used?
Once, all gloves are made for single use only.
What should you do immediately after removing gloves?
Wash your hands.
In what order should you put PPE? [4]
- Put on Apron
- Put on goggles (if appropriate)
- Use appropriate hand washing tchnique
- Put on appropropriate gloves.
What correct to open a packet of sterile gloves?
Empty the inner packet onto a clean surface.
When opening the inner packet of sterile gloves what should you make sure of?
That the inner surface hasn’t been touched.
In what sequence should PPE be removed?
- Remove gloves
- Remove apron from side (avoid snapping at neck
- Remove Gggles
- Decontaminate hands
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Proctive equipment
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective equipment
What is source Isolation?
Physical segregation of patients who pose a known or potential cross-infectio risk du to mrsa, carbapenem resistant, or infective diarrhoea patients.
How is source isolation achieved?
Byplacing individual in a single room or place them with patients who have similar ymptoms (in hospital settings)
What is Cohort Nursing?
Nursing or more patients in isolation
What is the aim of source isolation?
to reduce risk of cross-infection to others.
What isolation precautions should be implemented for infections spread via person-to-person contact?[2]
- Isolate in single room cared for by staff using PPE .
- Door to Isolation room must be kept closed.
What isolation precautions should be implemented for infections spread via airborne routes or respiratory droplets?[3]
- Isolate in single room cared for by staff using PPE .
- Masks MUST be worn
- Door to Isolation room must be kept closed.
What fundamental principles apply to both contact and respiratory isolation?
- Staff should take only essential equipment into the room
- Euipment used should be single use quipment
- Try to put patient with ensuite.
What type of equipment should be used on patients in isolation?
single-use equipment
What should be done if there is no single- use equipment available for isolation patients?
use dedicated equipment labelled with the individuals name.
what type of room should isolation patients’s have?
ensuite rooms
what should be done if an ensuite room isn’t available for an isolated patient?
use a dedicated bedpan or commode labelled with patients name.
What should all waste within an isolated room be categorised as?
hazardous waste
where should the waste bin for an isolated patient be located?
within the single room
What type of bin should be used for isolated patients?
- foot operted
- easy to clean
- full enclosed
How should linen used by an isolated patient be treated?
once used, treat as infected/contaminated.
dispose in appropriate bags (innersoluble) for transport
How often should the isolation room be cleaned?
At least on a daily basis
where environmental contamination may increase the rik of cross-contamination, what should be done to an isolation room?
increase levels of cleaning
What is a “terminal clean”?
when a room has been cleaned thoroughly with the curtains changed
When should a terminal clean take place?
when an isolated patient has been discharged or the infection has been resolved
How do you ensure an isolation room is clean?
there is a joint sign off sheet for NIC and housekeeping staff
What should be displayed outside the isolation room door?
A sign explaining special precautions that all staff caring for th patient must follow including advice for visitors.
How should a nurse alleviate anxiety for the isolated patient and visitors?
Explain reason for isolation and special precautions to invidual and visitors whilst maintaining confidentiality.
what will help reduce the psychological impact of isolation that some individuals experience?
good communication
In what order should you put on PPE prior to entering isolation room
- Apron
- Eye protection/masks
- Gloves
In what order should you remove PPE when leaving an isolation room?
- Remove Gloves
- Remove Apron
- Remove Eye protection and mask
What type of of sink tap should isolation rooms have?
elbow operated taps
