Study Notes on Infection Control Precautions

Precautions for Infection Control

  • Blood-borne Diseases: Increased carriers of diseases like HIV and hepatitis B heighten infection risk for caregivers.

  • Infection Control Guidelines: Established practices (2017) to prevent disease transmission in healthcare settings.

Key Definitions

  • Microorganism: Living entity that may cause disease.

  • Asepsis: Absence of disease-causing microorganisms.

  • Infection: Entry of harmful microorganisms into the body.

  • Sterile: Free from microorganisms.

Routine Practices

  • Importance: Over 200,000 infections annually in Canada from healthcare settings, with 8,000 resulting in death.

  • Evolution of Guidelines: Shift from universal precautions to standard precautions due to antibiotic-resistant organisms and new pathogens.

  • Standard Precautions: Combine universal precautions with body-substance isolation.

Chain of Infection

  • Break the chain through understanding:

    • Infectious Agent: Pathogen causing disease (e.g., bacteria).

    • Reservoir: Where the pathogen lives (e.g., people, equipment).

    • Portal of Exit: How the pathogen leaves the reservoir.

    • Mode of Transmission: How it spreads (contact, droplets).

    • Portal of Entry: How it enters a new host.

    • Susceptible Host: Individual at risk of infection.

Hand Hygiene

  • Key Practices: Essential to remove microorganisms; crucial before and after client interaction, after using the restroom, and following cough/sneeze.

  • Guidelines: Must wash for at least 15 seconds, use liquid soap when possible, avoid jewelry during care.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Purpose: Protect caregivers and clients from pathogen transmission. Includes gloves, gowns, masks, and goggles.

  • Guidelines for Use:

    • Use gloves when handling body fluids or waste.

    • Change gloves after each interaction; they do not replace hand hygiene.

    • Wear gowns for exposure to infectious materials; discard after use.

    • Masks required for airborne and droplet precautions.

Source Control

  • Respiratory Hygiene: Cover mouth/nose when coughing; dispose of tissues properly.

Infection Control in Environment

  • Clean contact surfaces regularly; ensure proper cleaning protocols are followed.

  • Consider isolation precautions for clients to contain infection spread based on types of infections (contact, droplet, airborne).

Education and Visitor Management

  • Client Concerns: Feelings of isolation and distress due to additional precautions.

  • Visitor Considerations: Balance patient well-being with safety; adhere to organizational visitation guidelines.