Intro to hygiene and microbiology

Question 1

Importance of hygiene

Answer 1

• vital part to the health and skincare therapist as we are always in close body contact with our clients
• always great risk of passing on infections either from client to therapist or between clients
• due to great risk of AIDS and Hepatitis B the client has the right to expect a good standard of hygiene
• cleanliness of surfaces, all equipment and washing of our hands should be second nature to us

Question 2

Hygiene

Answer 2

• refers to the set of practises associated with the preservation of health, healthy living, cleanliness and preventative measures
• hygiene procedures are necessary to reduce the incidents and spreading of disease

Question 3

Septic

Answer 3

indicates the presence of infection in or on any part of the body

Question 4

Cross-infection

Answer 4

the passing on or transferring of micro-organisms from one individual to another via contaminated equipment and poor hygiene procedures

Question 5

Aseptic

Answer 5

this refers to the absence of infection or methods used to promote absence of infection

Question 6

Pathogenic

Answer 6

bacteria which are harmful and cause disease

Question 7

Non-pathogenic

Answer 7

bacteria which are harmless or even beneficial to the human system

Question 8

Toxins

Answer 8

a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms

Question 9

Sterilization

Answer 9

total destruction or removal of all living micro-organisms including their spores

Question 10

Sanitization

Answer 10

a process where by objects and equipment are rendered clean and germ free

Question 11

Disinfectant

Answer 11

• a chemical agent which destroys micro-organisms but not their spores
• it may not kill all micro-organisms but reduce them to a state which is less harmful to our health

Question 12

Antiseptic

Answer 12

a non-toxic, non-irritant agent which destroys or stops the growth of micro-organisms on living tissue, therefore preventing infection

Question 13

Bactericide

Answer 13

chemical agent which destroys bacteria but not its spores

Question 14

Germicide

Answer 14

chemical agent which destroys micro-organisms including fungi and viruses but not their spores

Question 15

Virucide

Answer 15

destruction of viruses by a chemical agent but wont kill the spores

Question 16

Sporicide

Answer 16

destruction of spores by a chemical agent

Question 17

Biocide

Answer 17

destruction of all forms of life by a chemical agent

Question 18

Bacteriostat

Answer 18

a chemical agent capable of inhibiting the growth or multiplication of a bacterial population but wont kill the bacteria

Question 19

Fungistat

Answer 19

chemical agent capable of inhibiting the growth of fungi but wont kill that fungi

Question 20

Biostat

Answer 20

chemical agent capable of inhibiting the growth of all forms of life

Question 21

Funginant

Answer 21

vapour/gas used to keep clean objects sanitary

Question 22

Types of micro-organisms

Answer 22

• fungi
• bacteria
• viruses
• parasites

Question 23

Bacteria

Answer 23

• single-celled organisms that can be round, rod-shaped or flagellate
• they reproduce at the site of infection by means of cell division
• cell division can be increased by warmth and moisture on the area
• examples of bacterial infections:acne, food poisoning

Question 24

Fungi

Answer 24

• includes moles, yeast, mushrooms
• fungi reproduce by means of spores carried by the wind and water or transferred by animals
• examples: ringworm (tinea pedis, capitates, corporus), thrush (candida albicans)

Question 25

Viruses

Answer 25

- the smallest of all micro-organisms that cause viral infections - viral infections do not respond to treatment with antibiotics - viruses reproduce inside a human cell - examples: common cold, cold sores, chicken pox, warts, hepatitis A/B, HIV which can lead to AIDS

Question 26

Parasites

Answer 26

- these are the largest of the micro-organisms and can be seen with the naked eye - they are transferred from one organism to the next by means of a host - examples: worms, insects

Question 27

Precautions to be taken with our hands

Answer 27

- pay special attention to nails when washing hands as the hyponychium harbours the most germs on the body - nails should be kept short - hands should we thoroughly washed with antibacterial soap - hands should be dried with paper towel - never use a nail brush with a wooden handle - ensure that disposable gloves are worn with the presence of cuts or abrasions (a waterproof plaster can be worn for minor cuts)

Question 28

Blood

Answer 28

- surgical gloves should be worn - care is to be taken when removing the gloves to ensure your skin doesn't come into contact with contaminated surfaces - always wash your hands immediately after removing gloves

Question 29

Footwear

Answer 29

- clients are to wear shoes all the time in the clinic, except when in the shower, sauna or on the bed where proper sanitization methods have been carried out after each client has left - will help prevent the spread of Athletes foot and Verruca (warts)

Question 30

Barrier creams

Answer 30

- these allow the therapist to work with bare hands and still be shielded against spreading germs - advantage: the therapist does not lose sensitivity like when working with gloves - disadvantage: some products may dissolve the cream

Question 31

Disposables

Answer 31

- gloves, lancets, epilation needles - using disposables is the ultimate prevention of cross infection between the client and therapist and between clients - should be your first choice where possible and sanitization second

Question 32

Ways in which to dispose of disposables

Answer 32

- never throw them directly into a plastic bag as it can break and expose the contaminated waste - all needles, lancets, pedi blades should be placed into a sealed "sharps box" which is taken to the hospital to be incinerated by fire when full - disposable gloves, finger cots, tissues and paper towel should be placed into a plastic bag and also is incinerated

Question 33

Protection of the therapist

Answer 33

- therapist should ensure they receive a Hepatitis B inoculation once every 3 months

Question 34

Blood transmitted diseases

Answer 34

- HIV - Hepatitis

Question 35

HIV

Answer 35

- human immunodeficiency virus - virus responsible for causing AIDS - it attacks the T-lymphocyte cells in the body thus weakening the body immune system and as a result the body ability to resist opportunistic viral, bacterial and fungal and other infections is greatly reduced - this virus can be transferred by: blood transfusions, infected needles, sexual contact and breast feeding

Question 36

Hepatitis

Answer 36

- infection of the liver caused by viral infection, drugs and chemicals including alcohol

Question 37

Hepatitis A

Answer 37

- caused by hepatitis A virus and highly infectious - no lasting liver damage and recovery is within 2 months - the virus is contracted via fecal contamination of objects like food, toys, eating utensils and clothing

Question 38

Hepatitis B

Answer 38

- caused by the Hepatitis B virus - spreads by sexual contact, contaminated syringes and blood transfusion equipment and saliva - can be present for years and result in cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer

Question 39

Objects must be cleaned before the chosen method sanitization method is carried out

Answer 39

- to remove any residual organic matter from the previous client - cleaning before reduces the amount of infective material which will help improve the sanitization process - grease or oily material on the object may prevent the penetration of the steam or liquid disinfectant - metal objects that go into the hot bead will become covered with a hard, charred film

Question 40

Our methods of sanitization

Answer 40

- UV cabinet - glass bead sterilizer - chemical sanitizers

Question 41

UV cabinet