Infection Control
Presentation Objectives To understand the basics of infections
To be aware of routine practices
To know when to implement transmission-based precautions:
Contact precautions
Droplet precautions
Airborne precautions
To identify the importance of cleaning requirements
To be aware of self screening protocols
Infections: The Basics
Causative agent (What causes the infection)
Susceptible host (Where the infection survives)
Mode of transmission(How it gets there)
Routine Practices
Consists of:
Minimum standards to use for all resident contact
Protect residents, staff and visitors
Protect self if there is a chance of exposure to blood, body fluids, excretions or secretions.
HANDWASHING
is the Single most effective
method in Preventing the
Spread of Infection
HANDWASHING
is the Single most
effective method in
Preventing the Spread
of Infection
The Hand Washing Process:
Friction during hand scrubbing opens pores and loosens
germs
Wash for at least 20 seconds (Happy Birthday X 2)
Use warm water to loosen germs better
Wash often
Don’t re-contaminate your hands
Use Alcohol gel when hand washing is not possible
Routine Practices – Hand Washing
Hand Washing - When?
Hand washing should be performed:
At the start and finish of cleaning procedures
After touching any blood, body fluid, excretion or secretion
After removing a pair of gloves and before wearing a pair of new gloves
Before and after contact with residents or their environment
Between tasks/procedures on the same resident
Routine Practices - Personal Protection
Use of personal protective equipment is driven by:
Symptoms
Home Procedures
Routine Practices - Gloves
Use for touching blood, body fluids, contaminated items, mucous membranes and non-intact skin
Task specific
Avoid contaminating the environment
Perform hand hygiene after removal
Routine Practices - Gloves NEVER substitute gloves for hand washing
Gloves need to be changed between residents if delivering care (with hand washing in between)
Gloves need to be changed between activities for the same resident if contaminated
Gloves need to be worn if the staff has open lesions on their hands
Routine Practices - Gloves Non-sterile gloves such as household rubber gloves
should be worn for all cleaning procedures
They must be washed and disinfected prior to reuse and after contact with heavily contaminated surfaces or items
Disposable gloves should be changed:
Between cleaning resident rooms
If torn, punctured, cut or any evidence of deterioration
Routine Practices - Masks & Protective Eye Wear
Use for procedures that may generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions
When caring for coughing/febrile clients
Routine Practices - Gowns Use to prevent soiling of
clothes
Not needed for all care but should be used during procedures and activities likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, excretions or secretions.
Routine Practices - Handling Sharps
Sharps: Put them in their place!(razors, broken glass, needles etc)
Never ever re-cap needles
Routine Practices - Personal Care Supplies and Equipment
Personal care supplies should not be shared between residents
CreamsLotionsSoaps Razors
Equipment should be cleaned before use in the care of another resident
Transmission Based Precautions Certain pathogens require additional precautions.
Based on mode of transmission
Used in addition to routine practices
Airborne Precaution
Single room, negative pressure
N95 mask (fit tested)
Limit number of people entering the room
Resident should be out of the room for essential purposes only and should wear a surgical/procedure mask
Examples include: Tuberculosis or Chicken pox
Routine Precautions - Droplet
Reduce the risk of transmission of large droplets greater than 5 microns in size
Larger droplets do not remain suspended in the air
Surgical masks use within 1 meter of the resident
Examples: Influenza, Pertussis, Mumps
Spray Spreads!
Droplet Precautions
Limit number of people entering the Limit number of people entering the roomroom
Resident should wear a Resident should wear a surgical/procedure mask when outside surgical/procedure mask when outside of their roomof their room
Gloves, mask, eye protection, gown and Gloves, mask, eye protection, gown and hand hygienehand hygiene
Examples: Viral respiratory infections, Examples: Viral respiratory infections, such as Influenzasuch as Influenza
Contact Precautions Used for residents known to have an infection that is transmitted by
direct contact with the client or their environment
Used if there is potential for widespread environmental contamination. Typically:
Fecal incontinence (uncontrolled diarrhea)
Uncontained wound drainage
Influenza (with droplet precautions) or any uncontrolled respiratory secretions
Skin rash compatible with scabies
Contact Precautions Use of gown and gloves
Single room (if possible)
Dedicated equipment
Communication is key
Cleaning
Cleaning is the physical removal of dirt and debris using water and detergent
Disinfectants kill germs
There are policies that identify routine cleaning schedules as well as special cleaning needs/procedures of specific departments, types of surfaces and types of germ/pathogens
Self Screening Everyone SELF SCREENS upon entry to the home
Anyone who fails must be restricted
Staff should not come to work if unwell
Diarrhea or vomiting: return to work 48 hours after last symptom
Fever: do not come into work until you are fever free
Sore throat, sneezing and coughing: see your Infection Control Practitioner for direction. (They may direct you to wear a mask)
Summary Routine practices will protect you and your residents
PPE use guided by: symptoms and procedures and mode of transmission (if known)
Use resources available to you: Infection Control Practitioner
Hand hygiene is the most important way
to prevent the spread of infection
What Is Wrong With This Picture?
What Is Wrong With This Picture?