Week 6 - Infection Control in Healthcare settings Flashcards
Define infection control
processes and precautions taken to control the spread of infection
What is the chain of infection
the cycle of which infection is continuously spread
1. infectious agent
2. Reservoir (water, food, soil, humans, animals)
3. Portal of exit
4. made of transmission (droplet, faecal-oral, vector-borne)
5. portal of entry (mouth, nose, skin cuts, eyes)
6. susceptible host (human)
What are the potential sources of infection from patients and staff
Patients with
- acute phase of an infection (not that harmful) e.g. common cold
- prodromal phase of infection e.g. measles, mumps
- Healthy carriers of pathogenic organisms (not symptomatic) e.g. HIV, Hep B and C
What are the modes of trasmission
- Direct
- Indirect
What is the direct mode of transmission
- unprotected contact with infectious lesions or other skin infections e.g. Herpes, gonorrhea
- droplet (aerosols which turn into droplets in less than 1 m) e.g. coughing and sneezing
- Exchange of bloody fluids e.g. HIV, hepatitis
What are the forms of indirect modes of transmission
- Airborne (droplets which can travel as an aerosol for more than 1m) e.g. dental aerosols
- Contaminated objects (formites) - medical instruments, clothing, surfaces
What are the potential routes of transmission of microorganisms
- Infected from patients or vice verse (direct and indirect)
- equipment generate aerosols or improper sterilization
- subsequent patients at risk
How is HIV spread
Infected instrument or direct injection of blood
How is Hepatitis B spread
Sharps injury
How is Hepatitis C spread
Re-using needles, poor infection control practices
Define antiseptic
- Use for people
- type of chemical disinfectant suitable for use of skin or living tissue, used to kill or remove harmful microorganisms without damaging the tissue
Define disinfectant
- not used on people
- type of chemical suitable for use on inanimate objects
Define disinfection
destruction or removal of most microorganisms (usually kills bacteria, may not kill spores and viruses)
Define sterilization
Complete destruction or removal of all microorganisms including spores and viruses
Define biocide
chemical capable of killing microbe
What does critical level risk mean
the item penetrates sterile tissue, body cavity or blood stream
How do you clean critical level risk items
sterilisation
Examples of critical level risk items
surgical instruments
needles
periodontal scalers
implants
What is a semi critical level of risk item
an item which comes in contact with mucous membranes or non intact skin
How do you clean semi critical level risk items
single use
sterilization
high level chemical disinfection
Examples of semi critical level risk items
dental mouth mirrors
amalgam condensers
dental handpieces
What are non-critical level of risk items
items which only come in contact with intact skin
How do you clean non critical level risk items
cleaning
decontamination
Examples of non critical level risk items
x ray heads
bib chain
alginate spatula
protective eyewear
What are the approaches to prevent infection in healthcare settings
- removal of microorganisms from the environment
- removal of organisms from patient care equipment
Methods for the removal of microorganisms from the environment
- cleaning
- disinfection
What are the methods to removal organisms from patient care equipment
- cleaning, disinfection and/or sterilisation
ways which instruments and equipment can be cleaned
- automated washer
- ultrasonic bath
- manual
Methods to disinfect things
- heat (boiling for 5 min)
- liquids (phenolic compounds, bleach, 70% alcohol
Factors which affect liquids ability to disinfect
- If the organism has spores, gram-negative, non-enveloped (more resilient)
- high load of bacteria
- dilution/volume/contact time
Examples of antiseptics
- alcohol (<100%) e.g. skin wipes
- chlorhexidine
- Iodine-containing
Methods/processes for sterilisation
- autoclaves
- filtration
- hydrogen peroxide
- incineration
- gamma irradiation
Requirements when storing sterile and clean equipment and tools
- use expiry date
- re-sterilise equipment if packaging is damaged
- store clean items in dry, closed or covered containment
How should items which penetrates sterile tissue, body cavity or bloodstream be cleaned
sterilisation
JCU - item is washed in the thermal instrument washer, is wrapped, tracked then sterilised
e.g. surgical instruments, needles, periodontal scalers, implants
How should items which come in contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin be cleaned
Single use, sterilization, high level chemical disinfection
JCU - the item is washed in the thermal instrument washer, is wrapped, tracked, then sterilised
e.g. dental mouth mirrors, amalgam condensers, dental handpieces
How are items which come in contact with intact skin be cleaned
cleaning, decontamination
JCU - the item is washed in the thermal instruments washer, is wrapped, tracked, then sterilised
e.g. X-ray heads, bib chain, alginate spatula, protective eyewear
What are the standard precautions in healthcare settings
- treat all patients as potentially infectious
- standard precautions are applies at all times
- hand hygiene before and after
- use of PPE
- safe use of disposal of sharps
routine environmental cleaning - reprocessing of reusable medical equipment and instruments
