Health Science Infection Control, Safety, Minor Surgery, Integumentary System

Anesthesia

A loss of sensation especially the feeling of pain

Electrocauterization

Technique where a needle/probe heated by electric current destroys tissue (removes warts/stops bleeding) and may require a grounding pad

Aspirate

Withdrawn by suction

Cryosurgery

Procedure where unwanted tissue is destroyed by freezing

Pus

Consists of white blood cells bacteria and dead skin cells

Biopsy

Removal and examination of a small amount of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes

Incision

Surgical wound made from cutting into body tissues

Abscess

Collection of pus that forms as a result of infection

Closed wounds

Wounds that do not break the skin such as contusions and hematomas

Inflammatory phase

Wound healing phase where blood vessels constrict to help control bleeding

Debridement

Removal of debris or dead tissue from a wound

Scar tissue

Inferior to skin because it lacks elasticity blood vessels nerves and ability to sweat and forms at site of healing wound

Needle biopsy

Physician uses a needle and syringe to aspirate fluid or tissue cells for examination

Contaminate

To soil stain or infect by contact or association

Formalin

A dilute solution of formaldehyde that preserves biopsy samples

Laceration

Jagged wound or cut that may result from traumatic injury and may appear as a tear

Circulator

Non-sterile person who documents assesses vitals and collects equipment and may not touch the sterile field

Bandage

Wrapping material placed over a dressing to secure it

Forceps

Instrument used to grasp tissue

Post-operative

After or following a surgical procedure

Retractors

Instrument used to hold back tissue making the site easier to visualize

Sterilization

Elimination of all transmissible agents including spores

Scalpel

Handle that holds a disposable blade

Lidocaine

Most commonly used local anesthetic that can be injected or applied as topical gel

Sterile field

Area free of microorganisms used as a work area during a surgical procedure

Surgical asepsis

Process of maintaining sterility throughout a surgical procedure (sterile technique)

Approximate

To bring together the edges of a wound

Surgical sponges

Prepackaged squares of folded gauze used in surgery

Betadine

Brand name of povidone-iodine solution used as a skin antiseptic

Epinephrine

Medication mixed with local anesthetics as a vasoconstrictor to prolong effect and used with caution in cardiovascular disease

Pre-operative

Preparatory period preceding surgery

Medical asepsis

Efforts to reduce number of microbes on hands surfaces and equipment (clean technique)

Incision and drainage (I&D)

Provider makes an incision in abscess lining to allow drainage on its own or with a small tube

Chain of infection

The process showing how infections spread and breaking any link prevents transmission

Infectious agent

The pathogen that causes disease

Reservoir

Place where the pathogen lives

Portal of exit

How the pathogen leaves the reservoir

Mode of transmission

How the pathogen spreads from one host to another

Portal of entry

How the pathogen enters a new host

Susceptible host

Person at risk for infection such as elderly infants or immunocompromised

Microorganism

A tiny living thing seen only under a microscope

Organism

Any living thing that grows reproduces and responds to environment

Pathogen

A microorganism that causes disease

Non-pathogen

A microorganism that does not cause disease and may be helpful

Communicable disease

Illness caused by a pathogen that can spread person to person or through environment

Direct contact transmission

Spread through person-to-person touching

Indirect contact transmission

Spread through contaminated objects or surfaces

Droplet transmission

Spread through large droplets from coughing or sneezing within 3-6 feet

Airborne transmission

Spread through tiny particles that remain suspended in the air

Vector-borne transmission

Spread through insects or animals

Fecal-oral transmission

Spread by ingesting contaminated food or water

Localized infection

Infection confined to a specific area

Systemic infection

Infection spread throughout the entire body

Fever

Body temperature 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

Signs

Objective findings you can observe or measure

Symptoms

Subjective feelings the patient reports

Standard precautions

Infection control practices used for all patients

All body fluids except sweat are infectious

Standard precautions treat them as potentially infectious

Hand hygiene

Cleaning hands before and after patient contact and after removing gloves

Hand sanitizer time

Use enough to rub for at least 15 seconds

Gloves

Protect hands from blood body fluids secretions excretions mucous membranes and non-intact skin

Gloves must be changed

Between patients and if torn or contaminated

Gloves replace hand hygiene

No

Goggles

Protect eyes from splashes sprays or droplets

Face shield

Protects entire face and is worn instead of goggles with a mask underneath

Surgical mask

Protects nose and mouth from large droplets and splashes and reduces spread from wearer

Surgical mask does not filter

Airborne particles smaller than 5 microns

N95 respirator

Protects wearer from airborne particles and infectious aerosols

N95 requires

Fit testing and seal check

Gown

Protects skin and clothing from contamination and splashes

Gown removal

Remove before leaving patient care area

Contact precautions PPE

Gloves and gown

Contact precautions used for

Infections spread by direct or indirect contact

Contact precautions examples

MRSA VRE C diff scabies norovirus draining wounds

Droplet precautions PPE

Surgical mask to enter room and gloves/gown if contacting patient or contaminated environment

Droplet precautions distance

Within 3-6 feet

Droplet precautions transport

Patient wears surgical mask

Droplet precautions examples

Influenza strep pharyngitis meningitis pneumonia COVID-19 pertussis

Airborne precautions PPE

N95 respirator or PAPR and gloves/gown if contacting patient or contaminated environment

Airborne room requirement

Negative pressure room with door closed

Airborne precautions transport

Patient wears surgical mask

Airborne precautions examples

Tuberculosis measles varicella COVID-19

Never recap needles

Sharps safety rule

Never bend or break needles

Sharps safety rule

Sharps disposal

Dispose immediately in puncture-resistant sharps container

Sharps container fill level

Do not overfill and replace at ¾ full

Safety engineered devices

Devices designed to reduce sharps injuries

Contaminated linens

Treat as infectious and do not shake

Bag linens

Immediately at point of collection

Transport linens

Hold away from your body

Biohazardous waste

Waste that may contain bloodborne pathogens or infectious material

Biohazard waste examples

Blood products saturated items specimens cultures tissues organs

Non-sharp infectious waste disposal

Red leakproof biohazard bag with symbol and do not compress

Regular waste examples

Gloves with minimal contamination paper towels bandages without visible blood empty IV bags

Post-exposure protocol applies to

Needlesticks sharps injuries splashes breaks in skin and mucous membranes

First step after exposure

Wash area immediately with soap and water or flush eyes

After washing

Report incident to supervisor

Documentation after exposure

Complete an incident report

Medical follow-up after exposure

Seek evaluation and testing for HIV Hep B and Hep C

Repeat testing schedule

6 weeks 3 months and 6 months