Pt care: infection control in nuclear medicine

chain of infection

infectious agent (bacteria, virus, fungi, parasites) → reservoir (humans, animals, equipment, water) -→ portal of exit (blood, secretions, skin) -→ mode of transportation/transmission (direct/indirect) → portal of entry (mucous membranes, broken skin, respiratory tract) -?> susceptible host (immunocompromised, elderly, patients on chemo)

transmission of disease

direct contact

fomites

vectors (ticks)

vehicles (water, food, drugs, blood)

droplet (breathing in, droplet to mucosa)

airborne (disease in the air- often heavier than air)

pyrogens (fever causing agents which contaiminate meds/vaccines)

medical asepsis

clean technique (we use)

surgical asepsis

sterile technique

CDC standard precautions applies to

all patients

CDC standard precautions

PPE, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, pt placement, equipment handling, infection prevention practices

contact precautions

MRSA, c. diff

gown/gloves

droplet precautions

-influenza, SARs

-gown/golves/mask

airborne precautions

TB, measles

N95 respirator or PAPR, Gown/Gloves, negative pressure room

when to wash hands

-visibly dirty

-after using restroom

-C. diff / norovirus

-if sanitizer is not available

when to use hand sanitizier

-before and after touching a pt

-before preforming aspectic tasts

-after contact with pt surroundings

-after removing gloves

gloves worn

when touching blood, bodily fluids, mucous membranes, broken skin

handling contaminated equipment

administering radipharms

change b/w pts/ use hand hygiene

when to use gowns

risk of splashes/ sprays

when to use masks

droplet/airborne

protects nose and mouth from inhaling droplets or particles

when to use eye protection

risk of splashing, handling hazardous materials

when to use head/shoe covers

surgical or sterile environments

neutropenic (protective precautions)

for immunocompromised (masks, no fresh fruit/veggies, no flowers)

nosocomial infections (HAIs)

common in hospital environments

prevention strategies= cleaning, ppe, education

safe handling of equipment and surfaces

assume contamination

standard precautions

cleaning and disinfecting:

—high-touch surfaces

—approved disinfectants

—dwell time

radiation-specific equipment handling

-shielding materials

-dose calibrators/counters

-scintillation probes and cameras

sterilization

absolute killing of all life forms

heat is most effective (autoclave- heat with pressure) ; also UV

terminal cleaning

disinfecting of pt care area that involves sanitizing every surface- including hard to reach areas, to remove pathogens and reduce risk of transmission

TB or bed bugs

sharps container

needles, glass ampules/vials, lancets, broken glass

do not overfill

contaminated linens disposal

visible blood or bodily fluids, used in contact with precaution or isolation rooms, radioactive contamination

wear gloves, do not shake, place directly in leak proof bag (red for biohazard)

label clearly if radioactive or iso precautions

notify EVS

if wt chux from someone else, check to see if radioactive