ipc Flashcards
What are the 6 links in the chain of infection?
Infectious agent
Reservoir
Portal of exit
Mode of transmission
Portal of entry
Susceptible host
What is the infectious agent?
Microorganism that can cause infections eg - BBV
What is the reservoir?
Where the infectious agent lives and grown eg - people, equipment
What is the portal of exit?
How the infectious agent leaves the reservoir eg - body fluids
What is the mode of transmission?
How the infectious agent is spread from one site to another eg - direct contact
What is the portal of entry?
How the infectious agent enters the body eg - inoculation
What is the susceptible host?
Anyone
When should SICPs be carried out?
By all staff, in all care settings, at all times, for all pts whether infection is known to be present or not
What 8 SICPs are relevant to dentistry?
Hand hygiene
Personal protective equipment
Safe management of care equipment
Safe management of care environment
Safe management of blood and body fluid spillages
Safe disposal of waste (including sharps)
Occupational safety: prevention and exposure management (including sharps)
Respiratory and cough hygiene
How are blood and bodily fluid spillages managed?
Local policy followed
Appropriate PPE - apron, mask, gloves and eye protection
Organic matter removed using disposable absorbent towels, dispose of in healthcare waste
Apply appropriate granules or solution to disinfect the area, leave for required time
Granules removed using a scope, dispose of granules in healthcare waste
Area cleaned using water and general-purpose detergent then dried with paper towels or air dried
All waste including PPE disposed of in healthcare waste
Perform hand hygiene
What 2 agents can be used to deal with a spillage?
Sodium hypochlorite
Dichloroisocyanurate
What is the contact time for chlorine releasing agents?
3 minutes
Or according to the manufacturer’s instructions
What is the concentration of chlorine granules?
10,000ppm
Give 8 examples of waste disposed of in orange waste bags
Gloves
Masks
Patient bib
Aprons
Gauze
Contaminated wrapping
Rubber dam sheets
Clinell wipes
Give 4 examples of waste disposed of in a black bag
Gloves boxes
Hand hygiene paper towels
Paper
Instrument wrapping (uncontaminated)
When should the temporary closure mechanism be used on sharp boxes?
When the container is left unattended or is not inuse
How does the temporary closure mechanism work on sharp boxes?
One click for temporary closure
Two clicks for permanent closure
What should go in the blue lid and orange lid sharp boxes?
Blue - pharmaceuticals eg - 1/2 filled LA cartridges
Orange - all other sharps
Who is responsible for the disposal of sharps?
The user, operator, creator of the sharp is responsible for the sharp
No one other than the person who has used a sharp should be disposing of it
Who is responsible for carrying out a risk assessment following a sharps injury?
Supervising clinician
Clinician
Dental nurse team leader
Named nurse
NOT a student
What action should be taken if you receive a sharps injury and your pt refuses to consent for bloods to be taken?
The same protocol is followed whether a pt consents to having blood taken or refuses
Pts must never be pressured into giving consent to have bloods taken
What procedures should be followed if you receive a sharps injury while treating a pt?
Immediately stop procedure and investigate area
Inform pt if injury has occurred
Make the sharp safe
First aid - encourage bleeding, wash injured area, dress with waterproof plaster/dressing
Notify supervising clinician
Risk assessment carried out by appropriate person (not the person injured)
Contact occupational health
Consent patient for bloods - taken within GDH
Paperwork
Datix
What info is required for a Datix form?
If a student is injured - students details must be added into the person affected section
If student’s pt injured - pt details entered into person affected
Student details added as a witness
Student matriculation number to be added into the summary of event
What happens to the pts risk assessment paperwork after a sharp’s injury?
Must be destroyed after occupational health have been called
All info contained within the risk assessment is strictly confidential
Info from the risk assessment must not be written in the pts case notes
