IPC Precautions Flashcards
What are standard precautions?
The minimum standards to use during patient care
Why is hand hygiene so important?
Because hands create a mode of transmission
What are the five moments of hand hygiene?
Before touching patient
Before procedure or body fluid contact risk
After procedure or body fluid contact risk
After touching patient
After touching patient environment
What is alcohol-based hand rub?
Use when hands are NOT visibly soiled
Disables pathogens but doesn’t remove them
What factors affect efficacy of ABHR?
Alcohol type
Alcohol concentration (60% propanolol/70% isopropanolol/80% ethanol)
Contact time
Volume used
Wet vs dry hands
What does ABHR have low/no efficacy against?
Low efficacy against non-enveloped virus
No efficacy against protozoan oocytes and bacterial spores
What is hand washing?
Using soap and water
Mechanically removes microbes
What are the steps of using ABHR?
Apply palmful and cover all surfaces
Rub palm to palm
Palm to back of other hand with fingers interlaced - swap
Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
Lock fingers and rub up and down
Circle around each thumb - swap
Fingers to palm and rub in circles - swap
Once dry hands are done
What are the steps of hand washing?
Wet hands and apply soap
Rub palm to palm
Palm to back of other hand with fingers interlaced - swap
Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
Lock fingers and rub up and down
Circle around each thumb - swap
Fingers to palm and rub in circles - swap
Rinse off and dry thoroughly
Use towel to turn off tap
How long does the ABHR and hand washing processes take?
ABHR: 30 seconds
Hand washing: 60 seconds
What are the other factors to consider for hand care?
Wound care
No jewellery
No long sleeves
No ties or lanyards
Trimmed nails
No varnish and fakes
When are gloves not required when working with a patient?
If you are performing a task where there is no risk of body fluid contact. E.g. measuring BP
What is PPE?
Personal protective equipment
Provides barrier between you and the patient
Mask/face shield/respirator, gloves, gown, eye protection
When should you use a respirator?
In airborne precautions
For high risk procedure with unknown patient
For aerosol-generating procedures (e.g. nebulisers)
When should you wear a gown?
With infectious patients
When at risk of body fluid contact
What is respiratory hygiene?
Correct cough etiquette
Cough/sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
Hand hygiene
What is a ‘sharp’?
Any object with a corner, edge or projections which are capable of penetrating the skin
What factors make up the standard precaution of sharps?
Sharps bin readily available and not overfilled
Handling of sharps to a minimum
Do not recap or bend
Do not pass over by hand
Clear communication
Clear responsibility of sharp
Policy and procedure including injury protocol
Education
What is the exposure protocol?
Wash with soapy water or flush membrane well
Assess risk (exposure type, volume of fluid, patient status, worker susceptibility)
Test patient and worker
Counsel and follow up
Consider post-exposure prophylaxis within 72 hours
What is aseptic technique?
A set of practises to reduce contamination when performing a procedure
Aseptic non-touch technique most common
What are the 5 principles of aseptic technique?
Sequencing (performing task in order)
Environment control (reducing environment contamination risk like breezes)
Hand hygiene
Maintaining aseptic field (regular cleaning and waste control)
PPE
What is done in the ambulance to ensure maintenance of aseptic field?
Daily cleaning of surfaces with detergent
Cleaning anything soiled
Protecting surfaces and equipment from patients
Cleaning after each case
Why must body fluid spills be tended to as soon as possible?
They pose an infection risk AND a slip risk
What is in a spill kit?
Scoop and scrape
PPE (glove, gown, eyewear)
Absorbent agents and material
Waste bag and tie
Detergent
