1. Infection Control
and
Aseptic Technique

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

3. INFECTION
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 systemic infection involves the whole body.
An infection can become life-threatening before the older person has obvious signs and symptoms.

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

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

6. Spread of Infection Airborne
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
Invisible to the eye and easily inhaled

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20. Standard Precautions If you are wearing gloves
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

21. Standard Precautions
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.
Select a gown that is fluid resistant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32. SURGICAL ASEPSIS
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.
If a break occurs in sterile technique, infection is a risk.

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

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

35. Guidelines for Sterile Procedures
Always wash your hands before beginning
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

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

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

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

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

40. Sterile Gloving

41. Sterile Gloving

42. Sterile Gloving

43. Sterile Gloving

44. Sterile Gloving

45. Sterile Gloving

46. Sterile Gloving

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

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