Unit 6 - Safety and Infection Control

Infection

the invasion of body tissues by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites

Safety

the condition of being protected from danger or injury

Hospital Emergency Codes

codes that alert healthcare workers to urgent situations

Code Red

fire in the facility

Code Blue

cardiac arrest

Code Pink

child abduction

Code Black

bomb threat

Disaster

any sudden event that brings great damage, loss, or destruction.

Patient Safety

some patient safety guidelines are universal:

* Always identify patient
* Explain entire procedure, gain consent
* Perform procedures within scope of practice
* Observe patient carefully for changes in condtion

Incident Reports

used to document both safety/non safety related documents, must be filled accurately, completely, and immediately after the incident.

5 Rights of Medication Administration

1. Check you have the right patient
2. Check the frequency of the ordered medication
3. Check the physicians order, and appropriateness of dosage
4. Check the order/appropriateness of the route ordered
5. Confirm the rationale for the ordered medication

OSHA Hazard communication standard

requires employers to educate employees about chemical hazards in the workplace

Material Safety data sheets (MSDS)

should accompany every chemical used in a healthcare facility

What does a material safety data sheet contain?

* Chemical makeup
* chemical dilution
* Chemicals mixture concentration
* Instructions for use

Electrical Safety

failure to observe electrical safety can result in burns, severe skin damage, unconsciousness, or even death. Do not overload any electrical plugs or outlets

Radiation Safety

radiation exposure can occur near any machine that uses radiation.

* amount of radiation
* Duration of exposure
* Distance from source
* Type of protection used

ALARA: as low as reasonably achievable

Fire Safety

Fire can occur where the three elements of the fire triangle are present

* Fuel
* Heat
* Oxygen

RACE: Rescue, alarm, contain, extinguish

Body Mechanics

relate to the proper use of body movements to prevent injury via ergonomic practices

Quality Improvement (QI)

Involves monitoring and evaluation services for the purpose of making them better

Infection Control

Healthcare facilities strive to prevent the spread of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that can cause infectious disease

Bacteria

Small, one-celled microorganisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye; can be pathogenic. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics

Viruses

Viruses depend on living cells to survive and cannot reproduce on their own. Antibiotics do not kill viruses. Vaccines have been developed against several viral diseases.

Fungi

can cause disease, including athletes foot and certain lung diseases

Protozoa

Can cause amoebic dysentery, trichomoniasis, and malaria

Rickettsiae

are parasites that can cause diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and types of typhus

Chain of Infection

Illustrated the sequence of events that allows infection t o invade the body. Modes of transmission are…

* direct contact
* Indirect contact
* vectors

Hospital-acquired infections are called nosocomial infections

Hand Hygiene

The single most important way to prevent the spread of infection

Sterilized

To kill all microorganisms on a surface, the surface must be…

What body fluids can transmit harmful pathogens?

Blood, semen and vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, human tissue

Isolation

separates patients with certain infections from other patients

Airborne Precautions

protect against small airborne droplets or dust particles containing microorganisms

Droplet precautions

protect against large droplet transmission, as in coughing or sneezing

Contact Precautions

protect against the spread of microorganisms through direct or indirect contact

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

protects workers form serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with various hazards. can include face shields, safety goggles, gowns, gloves, and face masks

Needlesticks/Sharps

Needlesticks and other accidental punctures of the skin can spread infection

Sharp objects and biohazard wastes must be disposed of properly

Disposal of Hazardous Materials

hospitals are required to have hazardous-material and waste-management plans or protocols

Donning and Doffing PPE Sequence

hand hygiene, gown, mask, eye or face protection, and gloves. When doffing, hand hygiene must be performed after taking off each item; starting with gloves, eye or face protection, gown and mask.

Two levels of isolation practice are…

* standard precautions
* transmission based precautions