Lec 4.7 - Aseptic, Safety, and Maintenance Protocols

Standard Precautions

• Infection control practices that are used to prevent the transmission of infections

• Should be applied at all times during patient care

• Combined Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation

• Established to protect healthcare workers and clients from infective agents, particularly transmission of blood, other fluids containing blood, mucus membrane, non-intact skin, body fluids, excretions, and secretions.

Aseptic Procedures

• Set of practices that protect patients from healthcare-associated infections and protect healthcare workers from contact with blood, body fluid, and body tissues

• Interrupt or create barriers to infection cycle

• Used to prevent spread of disease and infection

Sequencing

• Series of actions that ensure each procedure is performed in a safe and appropriate order

• Involves strategy and planning in a way which will prevent infection

Risk Assessment

• Are there environmental or patient factors that increase the risk?

• Is the procedure technically difficult or an emergency situation?

• Is there a risk of infection transmission or contamination risk with this procedure?

• What PPE do you need for this procedure?

• What action is required to mitigate these risks?

Environmental Control

• Factors in the clinical environment can increase risk of infection and patient harm

• Activities like bedmaking, dusting, or cleaning increases risk of contamination

• The type of environment affects the level of contamination risk

• Cleanliness and condition of work area, surfaces, and equipment influence safety

• Fans and open windows can cause air turbulence that contaminates aseptic field

• Environmental risk should be controlled or removed to preventaccidents, contamination, and infection

Hand Hygiene

• Before and after collecting equipment

• After setting up an aseptic field

• Before donning gloves

• After completing procedure and removing gloves

• After cleaning up and disposing equipment and waste

Personal Protective Equipment

• Any gear to protect against infection

  • Level 1 _: surgical mask, alcohol hand wash/spray.

  • Level 2 _: surgical mask, goggles or face shield.

  • Level 3 _: N95 mask, goggles or face shield, gloves, surgical cap, scrub suits, gowns (or coveralls), shoe covers.

  • Level 4 _: N95 mask (or PAPR), goggles or face shield, double gloves, surgical cap, scrub suits, coveralls, dedicated shoes, shoe covers.

Respiratory Hygiene

• When coughing, cover your nose with a flexed elbow or a tissue

  • Helps in preventing the spread of germs and viruses to other people

  • Coughing in bare hands can contaminate objects you touch

• Basic Measures:

  • Hand washing

  • Coughing into your sleeve or tissue

  • NOT touching nose or mouth

Maintaining a one-meter distance to those coughing or sneezing

Cough Etiquette

• Always bring a handkerchief or tissue to cover the nose and mouth when coughing

• Use your shirt sleeve or the inner side of your elbow if a tissue is not available

• Maintain your distance from people when coughing

• Do not spit

• Dispose used tissue properly

• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing

• Use alcohol or hand sanitizer

Universal Precautions

• Developed to protect health workers from infectious agents among other blood-borne conditions

• Must be used with all patients to be effective

Material Safety Data Sheet

• Substances are properly labeled based on their associated hazards

• Identify hazards when cleaning up materials or substances

• Gives information on what to do when accidents happen