1. Aseptic Technique Infection Control and

2. MICROORGANISMS MICROORGANISMS A microorganism (microbe) is a small living plant or animal. A microorganism (microbe) is a small living plant or animal. It is seen only with a microscope. It is seen only with a microscope. Microbes are everywhere. Microbes are everywhere. Pathogens are harmful and can cause infections. Pathogens are harmful and can cause infections. Non-pathogens are microbes that do not usually cause an infection. Non-pathogens are microbes that do not usually cause an infection.

3. INFECTION INFECTION An infection is a disease state resulting from the invasion and growth of microbes in the body. An infection is a disease state resulting from the invasion and growth of microbes in the body. A local infection is in a body part. A local infection is in a body part. A systemic infection involves the whole body. A systemic infection involves the whole body. An infection can become life-threatening before the older person has obvious signs and symptoms. An infection can become life-threatening before the older person has obvious signs and symptoms.

4. Spread of Infection How infection is spread: How infection is spread: Direct contact Direct contact Touching an infected person Touching an infected person Indirect contact Indirect contact Touching environmental surfaces and fomites such as linen, supplies, or equipment that have pathogens on them Touching environmental surfaces and fomites such as linen, supplies, or equipment that have pathogens on them

5. The ability to resist infection relates to: The ability to resist infection relates to: Age Age Nutrition Nutrition Stress Stress Fatigue Fatigue Health Health Drugs Drugs Disease and injury Disease and injury

6. Spread of Infection Airborne Airborne Mucus contains pathogens expelled into the air by coughing or sneezing Mucus contains pathogens expelled into the air by coughing or sneezing Pathogens travel long distances in ventilation systems, dust, or on moisture in the air Pathogens travel long distances in ventilation systems, dust, or on moisture in the air Invisible to the eye and easily inhaled Invisible to the eye and easily inhaled

7. Spread of Infection Droplets Droplets Large and heavy Large and heavy Remain within three feet of the patient Remain within three feet of the patient Fall to the ground quickly Fall to the ground quickly Contain pathogens that are inhaled or picked up on the hands Contain pathogens that are inhaled or picked up on the hands

8. Spread of Infection Common Vehicle Common Vehicle Contaminated food, water, feeding formulas, and equipment used for procedures Contaminated food, water, feeding formulas, and equipment used for procedures Pathogens are consumed when eating and drinking Pathogens are consumed when eating and drinking

9. Spread of Infection Vectors Vectors Insects, rodents, and small animals can carry pathogens and transmit them to humans Insects, rodents, and small animals can carry pathogens and transmit them to humans

10. Chain of Infection Factors necessary for infection to develop Factors necessary for infection to develop Breaking a link in the chain will prevent an infection from spreading Breaking a link in the chain will prevent an infection from spreading

11. Chain of Infection Source Source Disease-causing pathogen Disease-causing pathogen Mode of transmission Mode of transmission How the pathogen is spread How the pathogen is spread Susceptible host Susceptible host Person who can become infected Person who can become infected

12. Chain of Infection Carrier Carrier Infected person who can spread the disease Infected person who can spread the disease He or she may not know of the infection He or she may not know of the infection Portal of entry Portal of entry Place where the microbe enters the body Place where the microbe enters the body

13. Chain of Infection Portal of exit Portal of exit Secretions, excretions, or droplets in which the pathogens travel when they leave the body Secretions, excretions, or droplets in which the pathogens travel when they leave the body

14. Handwashing Most important way to prevent spread of microorganisms. Most important way to prevent spread of microorganisms.

15. To prevent the spread of microbes, wash your hands: To prevent the spread of microbes, wash your hands: After urinating or having a bowel movement After urinating or having a bowel movement After changing tampons or sanitary pads After changing tampons or sanitary pads After contact with your own or another person’s blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions After contact with your own or another person’s blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose Before and after handling, preparing, or eating food Before and after handling, preparing, or eating food

16. To prevent the spread of microbes, also do the following: To prevent the spread of microbes, also do the following: Provide all persons with their own linens and personal care items. Provide all persons with their own linens and personal care items. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Bathe, wash hair, and brush your teeth regularly. Bathe, wash hair, and brush your teeth regularly. Wash fruits and raw vegetables before eating or serving them. Wash fruits and raw vegetables before eating or serving them. Wash cooking and eating utensils with soap and water after use. Wash cooking and eating utensils with soap and water after use. Hand hygiene Hand hygiene Hand hygiene is the easiest and most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene is the easiest and most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Practice hand hygiene before and after giving care. Practice hand hygiene before and after giving care.

17. Standard Precautions You cannot tell whether someone has a disease or infection by appearance You cannot tell whether someone has a disease or infection by appearance Standard precautions Standard precautions Used for all patients to prevent infection Used for all patients to prevent infection Involve using personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing certain tasks Involve using personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing certain tasks

18. Standard Precautions Wear gloves when there is contact with: Wear gloves when there is contact with: Blood Blood Moist body fluid (except sweat) Moist body fluid (except sweat) Secretions Secretions Excretions Excretions Mucous membranes Mucous membranes Nonintact skin Nonintact skin

19. Standard Precautions If your gloves become soiled, remove them, wash hands, and apply a new pair If your gloves become soiled, remove them, wash hands, and apply a new pair We communicate through touch We communicate through touch Avoid using gloves for all patient contact Avoid using gloves for all patient contact

20. Standard Precautions If you are wearing gloves If you are wearing gloves Change them immediately before contacting mucous membranes and nonintact skin Change them immediately before contacting mucous membranes and nonintact skin Apply a mask and eye protection if there is risk of being splashed with blood or body fluids Apply a mask and eye protection if there is risk of being splashed with blood or body fluids

21. Standard Precautions A mask may be worn without eye protection, but eye protection should never be worn without a mask A mask may be worn without eye protection, but eye protection should never be worn without a mask

22. Standard Precautions Wear a gown if there is a risk that your uniform may contact blood and body fluids. Wear a gown if there is a risk that your uniform may contact blood and body fluids. Select a gown that is fluid resistant Select a gown that is fluid resistant

23. Standard Precautions PPE must fit properly PPE must fit properly If it is cut or torn, it will not protect you, and it should be replaced If it is cut or torn, it will not protect you, and it should be replaced Restock equipment after use Restock equipment after use

24. Standard Precautions Avoid contaminating clean equipment, supplies, or surfaces with used gloves Avoid contaminating clean equipment, supplies, or surfaces with used gloves Wear a glove on one hand; use the ungloved hand to contact other surfaces Wear a glove on one hand; use the ungloved hand to contact other surfaces Discard gloves in a covered container Discard gloves in a covered container

25. Standard Precautions Always wash your hands before applying and after removing gloves Always wash your hands before applying and after removing gloves Never cut, bend, break, or recap needles Never cut, bend, break, or recap needles Discard in a puncture-resistant container Discard in a puncture-resistant container

26. Isolation Airborne precautions Airborne precautions Used for patients whose disease is spread by the airborne method of transmission Used for patients whose disease is spread by the airborne method of transmission Droplet precautions Droplet precautions Used for some infections that are spread in the air Used for some infections that are spread in the air

27. Isolation Contact precautions Contact precautions Contain pathogens that are spread by direct or indirect contact Contain pathogens that are spread by direct or indirect contact Usually found in infections of the skin, urine, and fecal material Usually found in infections of the skin, urine, and fecal material

28. Isolation Special Circumstances Special Circumstances Patients with infections transmitted by more than one method Patients with infections transmitted by more than one method Two types of isolation are needed in addition to standard precautions Two types of isolation are needed in addition to standard precautions Isolation and standard precautions must be used when working in an isolation room Isolation and standard precautions must be used when working in an isolation room

29. Bioterrorism Bioterrorism Bioterrorism Use of biological agents, such as pathogenic organisms or agricultural pests, for terrorist purposes Use of biological agents, such as pathogenic organisms or agricultural pests, for terrorist purposes

30. Bioterrorism Your facility will have a disaster plan Your facility will have a disaster plan Provides information for patients, employees, visitors Provides information for patients, employees, visitors Contains public health protocols to follow in an emergency Contains public health protocols to follow in an emergency

31. MEDICAL ASEPSIS MEDICAL ASEPSIS Asepsis is being free of disease-producing microbes. Asepsis is being free of disease-producing microbes. Measures are needed to achieve asepsis. Measures are needed to achieve asepsis. Medical asepsis (clean technique) Medical asepsis (clean technique) Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) Sterilization is the process of destroying all microbes. Sterilization is the process of destroying all microbes. Contamination is the process of becoming unclean. Contamination is the process of becoming unclean.

32. SURGICAL ASEPSIS SURGICAL ASEPSIS Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is the practices that keep equipment and supplies free of all microbes. Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is the practices that keep equipment and supplies free of all microbes. Surgical asepsis is required any time the skin or sterile tissues are entered. Surgical asepsis is required any time the skin or sterile tissues are entered. If a break occurs in sterile technique, infection is a risk. If a break occurs in sterile technique, infection is a risk.

33. Sterile Technique A microbe free technique A microbe free technique Used for performing procedures within body and during dressing changes Used for performing procedures within body and during dressing changes Also called surgical asepsis Also called surgical asepsis An item or area is sterile if it is free from all microorganisms and spores An item or area is sterile if it is free from all microorganisms and spores

34. Flash Sterilization Quick method of sterilizing essential items Quick method of sterilizing essential items Risk for contamination is great because personnel are usually rushed Risk for contamination is great because personnel are usually rushed Follow manufacturers’ guidelines and facility policies when flash sterilizing Follow manufacturers’ guidelines and facility policies when flash sterilizing

35. Guidelines for Sterile Procedures Always wash your hands before beginning Always wash your hands before beginning If the sterility of an item is in doubt, consider it unsterile and avoid using it If the sterility of an item is in doubt, consider it unsterile and avoid using it If a sterile item contacts an unsterile item, the sterile item is contaminated If a sterile item contacts an unsterile item, the sterile item is contaminated

36. Guidelines for Sterile Procedures Consider a sterile package contaminated when: Consider a sterile package contaminated when: It is cracked, cut, or torn It is cracked, cut, or torn It is wet It is wet It has expired It has expired

37. Creating a Sterile Field Sanitize and dry the table before placing supplies on it Sanitize and dry the table before placing supplies on it Avoid touching the inside of the package Avoid touching the inside of the package Inside can be used as a sterile field Inside can be used as a sterile field Never turn your back on a sterile field Never turn your back on a sterile field

38. Creating a Sterile Field Avoid crossing over or touching a sterile field. Avoid crossing over or touching a sterile field. Keep sterile items above waist level Keep sterile items above waist level Avoid talking, coughing, or sneezing over a sterile field Avoid talking, coughing, or sneezing over a sterile field

39. Creating a Sterile Field Use sterile gloves Use sterile gloves Touch only sterile items Touch only sterile items Touch only the inside of the package Touch only the inside of the package Keep your hands above your waist Keep your hands above your waist Avoid touching your clothing or body Avoid touching your clothing or body If sterile gloves touch an unsterile item, they are contaminated. Change the gloves If sterile gloves touch an unsterile item, they are contaminated. Change the gloves

40. Sterile Gloving

47. Setting Up a Sterile Field One-inch border around outside edge of the field is considered unsterile One-inch border around outside edge of the field is considered unsterile Drape hangs over the edges of the table Drape hangs over the edges of the table Area below the table is not sterile Area below the table is not sterile Sterile supplies can touch only the sterile field Sterile supplies can touch only the sterile field

48. Setting Up a Sterile Field Sterile transfer forceps may be used Sterile transfer forceps may be used Avoid touching the tips of the forceps Avoid touching the tips of the forceps Handle is contaminated because you have touched it with your hands Handle is contaminated because you have touched it with your hands