Infection Control: Chain of Infection and Sterile Technique

Chain of Infection & Infection Control

Understanding the Chain of Infection: A Practical Example

  • Scenario: John, suffering from a severe sinus infection (or flu), decides to go to work for an important meeting despite feeling unwell. As he enters the building, he presses the elevator buttons, then gets into the elevator where he coughs. Later, Emily, running late, presses the same elevator button and by the end of the day, she also begins to feel unwell.

  • Applying the Chain of Infection to the Scenario:

    • Infectious Agent: The flu (the pathogen causing John's illness).

    • Reservoir: John (the host where the infectious agent lives and multiplies).

    • Portal of Exit: John touching the elevator buttons and coughing (ways the infectious agent leaves the reservoir).

    • Mode of Transmission: Touch (direct contact with contaminated buttons) or cough (airborne transmission of respiratory droplets).

    • Portal of Entry: Breathing (inhaling airborne particles from John's cough) and touching the contaminated elevator buttons (allowing entry through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin).

    • Susceptible Host: Emily (a person who lacks effective resistance to the infectious agent).

The Role of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) serves as a critical measure to prevent or break a link in the chain of infection, thereby stopping the spread of infectious agents. This concept is fundamental to infection control.

Important Reminders & Resources

  • Flu Shot: Students are reminded to get their flu shot, with a deadline set for next Friday.

  • Review Materials: Additional resources are available for further study on infection control and the chain of infection:

    • Cards with examples for each link in the chain are provided.

    • Yellow cards offer more specific examples for each category.

    • Flashcards are also available with examples, encouraging students to review and quiz each other with table partners.

    • The importance of continuous learning in infection control is emphasized due to the variety of questions asked in different scenarios.

Upcoming Practical Skills: Handwashing & Sterile Gloving

  • Proper Handwashing: While reviewed in previous years, this fundamental skill will be revisited.

  • Sterile Gloving: This will be a primary focus, as it is one of the first beginning-of-the-year skills exams for seniors. Key points include:

    • It is considered a very fundamental skill, yet many seniors continue to struggle with it.

    • Consistent practice is essential for mastering sterile gloving; it is not expected to be easy initially.

    • Mastery often occurs when a