Keep It CleanIn cooperation with: •The Emma Barnsley Foundation•The PEER Program at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

peer.tamu.edu

Homeostasis• The ability of the body to maintain internal stability or

balance• Inability to maintain homeostasis may lead to disease

or death

Are You in Balance?

• What are some ways your body maintains homeostasis?

Microorganism• Microscopic organisms– Bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, viruses

• Present everywhere– Bodies, soil, atmosphere, ocean, Antarctica…

• Beneficial or detrimental – Nutrient cycling, food preparation, nutrient

absorption, pathogenic

Microorganisms & Disease• Pathogen - a micro-organism that has the

potential to cause disease• Infection - the invasion and multiplication of

pathogenic microbes• Disease - infection causes damage to the

individual’s vital functions or systems• homeostatic imbalance

Microorganisms & Disease

• To cause an infection, microbes must enter our bodies– portals of entry

Respiratory tract (mouth and nose)

Gastrointestinal tract (mouth oral cavity)

Urogenital tract

Breaks in the skin surface

Microorganisms & DiseaseTo make us ill microbes have to:•Reach their target site •Attach to the target site•Multiply rapidly•Obtain nutrients from the host•Avoid and survive attack by host’s immune system

Aseptic Technique

• A procedure used by medical staff to prevent the spread of pathogens–Achieve asepsis (the state of being free

from disease causing contaminants)

This is a Test!• Fiona has come to the Texas A&M Small

Animal Teaching Hospital to be spayed. Which image illustrates the mostly likely source of contamination during her surgery?

Fiona SurgeonSurgical

Instruments

Cleanse with a disinfectant containing iodine, alcohol, or chlorhexidine gluconate

Apply sterile drapes around the surgical site

Patient

• Most comon source of pathogens

Shave hair from the surgical site

Surgical Team• Hand washing/surgical scrub– special antimicrobial soap on hands and forearms– 2 – 5 minutes of scrubbing

Surgical Team • Sterile clothing– Gloves, face masks, goggles, and transparent

eye/face shields • serve as barriers against microorganisms

– Cover facial hair, tuck hair in cap, remove jewelry– Dress with deliberate care to avoid touching

external, sterile surfaces with non-sterile objects• Personnel assist the surgeon

Equipment• Surgical instruments - sterilized by chemical

treatment, radiation, gas, or heat• Ensure sterility by checking sterility indicators and

that packages are dry and intact• Never re-use disposable equipment– Syringes

Environment• Contains potential hazards that may spread

pathogens through movement, touch, or proximity

• Restrict traffic in the sterile field• Maintain positive-pressure airflow (to prevent

air from contaminated areas from entering the sterile field)

What About Your Environment?

• Look around your classroom and identify items that might help achieve asepsis.

Questions?