PROMOTING ASEPSIS AND PREVENTING INFECTION

Standard Precautions are

a set of precautions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for in order to minimize the risk in acquiring an infection from a patient or spread infection among patients

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Standard precautions are formerly known as the

Universal Precautions

Components of Standard Precaution:

1. Hand Hygiene

2. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

3. Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette

TRANSMISSION-BASED PRECAUTIONS:

1. Airborne Precautions

2. Droplet Precautions

3. Contact Precautions

Chain of Infection

describes the development of an infectious process. An interactive process involving an agent, host and environment is required

SIX ESSENTIAL LINKS (elements) IN THE CHAIN OF INFECTION

1. AGENT

2. RESERVOIR

3. PORTAL OF EXIT

4. MODES OF TRANSMISSION

5. PORTAL OF ENTRY

6. HOST

1. AGENT

entity that is capable of causing disease.

Agents that causes diseases are::\

- Humans Biologic agents

- Chemical agents

- Physical agents

Humans Biologic agents

living organisms that invade the host, causing disease, such as bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoa and rickettsia.

Chemical agents

substances that can interact with the body, causing disease, such as food additives, medications , pesticides and industrial chemicals

Physical agents

factors in the environment that are capable of causing disease, such as heat, light ,noise and radiation

2. RESERVOIR

is a place where the agent can survive

The most common reservoir are:

■ Humans

■ Animals

■ Environment

■ Fomites

Carriers

have the infectious disease but are symptom free

3. PORTAL OF EXIT

is the route by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir to be transferred to a susceptible host.

The agent leaves the reservoir through body secretions including:

■ Sputum, from the respiratory tract

■ Semen, vaginal secretions, or urine, from the genitourinary tract

■ Saliva and feces, from gastrointestinal tract

■ Blood

■ Draining wounds

■ Tears

4. MODES OF TRANSMISSION

is the process of the infectious agent moving from the reservoir or source through the portal of exit to the portal of entry of the susceptible new host

Types of Modes of Transmissions:

- Contact transmission

- Airborne transmission

- Vehicle transmission

- Vector-borne transmission

5. PORTAL OF ENTRY

is the route by which an infectious agent enters the host. Portals of entry include the following

Integumentary system

through break in the integrity of the skin or mucus membranes (surgical wounds)

Respiratory tract

by inhaling contaminated droplets ( such as colds, influenza, measles

Genitourinary tract

through the contact with infected vaginal secretions or semen (as in STI)

Gastrointestinal tract

by ingesting contaminated food or water (typhoid hepatitis A)

Circulatory system

through the bite of insects (such as mosquito bite resulting in malaria)

Transplacental

through transfer of microorganisms from mother to fetus via the placenta and umbilical cord (including HIV , hepatitis B

6. HOST

is an organism that can be affected by an agent. A human being is usually considered a host

Susceptible host

person who has no resistance to an agent and thus is vulnerable to disease ( ex. No vaccine)

Compromised host

person whose normal body defense are impaired and is therefore susceptible to infection (ex. Cold, or superficial burns)

The first line of defense against infection and is the single most important practice in preventing the spread of infection

Hand hygiene

Disinfection

is the elimination of pathogens, excepts spores , from inanimate objects

Concurrent

after the discharge of infectious material from the body of an infected person or after soiling the articles

Terminal

at the time the person is no longer source of infection

Disinfectants

are chemical solutions used to clean inanimate objects

Germicide

is a chemical that can be applied to both animate (living ) or inanimate objects to eliminate pathogen

Sterilization

is destroying all microorganisms including spores (autoclaving) but not boiling water (clean)

Isolation

is the separation of infected person from other persons during period of communicability

Quarantine

is the limitation of freedom of movement of persons or animals equal to the longest usual incubation period of the disease

Fumigation

is any process which the killing of animal forms in accomplished with the use of gaseous agents

Types of infection:

- Localized infections

- Systemic infections

BASIC CLEANSING OPERATIONS:

- Sweeping

- Dusting

- Washing

- Mopping

- Scrubbing

- Waxing

Sweeping

is basic cleansing operation which removes dirt from the floor area

Equipments for Sweeping:

- Floor brush or broom

- Sweep

- Dust pan

- Dust box

Dusting

is a basic cleaning operation used in removing dirt from furniture.

Types of Dusting:

1. Low Dusting

2. High Dusting

Low Dusting

Done daily to remove dirt form places easily reached while standing on the floor.

High Dusting

done periodically to remove dirt from high areas like ceilings, windows, etc

Equipments for Dusting:

■ Basin or Pail with water

■ Laundry Soap

■ Newspaper

■ Dusting Clothes

■ Brush or duster or Chicken Feathers

Washing

It is a basic cleaning operation to remove dirt using water and soap. It includes removing loose dirt, washing, rinsing and drying.

Equipments for Washing:

■ Basin or Pail

■ Cleaning solution

■ Paper lining

■ Dust clothes

MOPPING

is a basic cleansing operation to rub or wipe the floor.

SCRUBBING

is the removal of dirt through application of friction.

WAXING

is the application of protective coating over surfaces usually floor which is usually polished by scrubbing