Nursing Skills Exam 1

Chain of Infection

1. Infectious agent

2. Reservoir

3. Portal of exit

4. Mode of transmission

5. Portal of entry

6. Susceptible host

Breaking the Chain of Infection

• WASH YOUR HANDS

• PPE

• Vaccines

• Disinfecting surfaces

• Sterilization

• Eliminate pathogen reservoirs (e.g., eliminate standing water to kill mosquitoes)

Medical Asepsis

• “Clean technique”

• Practices that kill some microorganisms to prevent them from spreading

• Examples: hand washing, cleaning of patient’s personal equipment, clothing, linens

Surgical Asepsis

• “Sterile technique”

• Practices that completely kill and eliminate microorganisms

• Example: use of disposable sterile gloves or sterile instruments

When to Perform Handwashing

• Contact with bodily fluids

• Between patients

• Visibly soiled

• Spores

• C. Diff

• After using the bathroom

Five Moments of Hand Hygiene

1. Before touching a patient

2. Before clean/aseptic procedure

3. After bodily fluid exposure risk

4. After touching a patient

5. After touching patient surroundings

How long should you wash your hands for?

15-20 seconds!

Transmission-Based Precautions

• Airborne

• Droplet

• Contact